Bartenders' respiratory health after establishment of smoke-free bars and taverns

Abstract

Context. - The association between environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure and respiratory symptoms has not been well established in adults. Objective. - To study the respiratory health of bartenders before and after legislative prohibition of smoking in all bars and taverns by the state of California. Design. - Cohort of bartenders interviewed before and after smoking prohibition. Setting and Participants. Bartenders at a random sample of bars and taverns in San Francisco. Main Outcome Measures. -Interviews assessed respiratory symptoms, sensory irritation symptoms, ETS exposure, personal smoking, and recent upper respiratory tract infections. Spirometric assessment included forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) measurements. Results. - Fifty-three of 67 eligible bartenders were interviewed. At baseline, all 53 bartenders reported workplace ETS exposure. After the smoking ban, self-reported ETS exposure at work declined from a median of 28 to 2 hours per week (P