Smoking ban already showing health benefits

Oct 11 2006

Smoking bans which were implemented in most workplaces such as pubs and restaurants in Scotland in March this year, are already showing health benefits.

A report conducted by researchers at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School in Dundee, has found that within a matter of weeks of the ban becoming active a marked improvement was seen in breathing-related problems.

The study found that of 77 nonsmoking bar workers in Tayside, Scotland, 61 had various respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, cough and phlegm as well as problems such as irritated eyes, sore throats and runny noses, before the ban went into effect.

One month on the number of those reporting such problems dropped from 61 to 41, a 26 percent decline, and two months into the ban the number fell to 38.

Lead researcher Daniel Menzies and his team say the ban on smoking in enclosed places "has led to a rapid and marked improvement in the health of bar workers".

He says even those who had worked in the industry for more than nine years, saw improvements in health in just one month.

The improvements were particularly noticeable in twelve of the bar workers who had asthma, they reported a better quality of life after the ban.

The bar workers' lung function also improved and they had lower blood levels of cotinine, a substance which is an indicator exposure to tobacco smoke.

Experts say the study provides compelling scientific evidence that smoke-free workplace legislation is rapidly effective in improving the health of workers.

The study is published in The Journal of the American Medical Association.