Smoke-Free Policies Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure

Overview

Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings does not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoke-free policies are the only effective way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.¹

Selected Studies

Studies in:	Found that:
*Cotinine is a byproduct the body creates when it breaks down nicotine that has been breathed in through active smoking or by exposure to secondhand smoke. Exposure to nicotine can be measured by testing saliva, urine, or blood for the presence of cotinine.1
New York (2005, 2007)2,3	1 year after a statewide smoke-free law took effect— self-reported secondhand smoke exposure among nonsmoking workers decreased by 98%, saliva cotinine* levels among nonsmoking workers decreased by 78%, and saliva cotinine* levels among nonsmokers fell by 47%.
Scotland (2007)4,5	Within a 1-year period after implementation of a national smoke-free law— saliva cotinine* levels fell by 39% among primary school children, and saliva cotinine* levels fell by 39% among nonsmoking adults.

Additional studies conducted in Massachusetts found the following:

• Adults who live in towns with smoke-free laws were almost 3 times more likely to report no exposure to secondhand smoke in restaurants than adults who live in towns without smoke-free laws.⁶
• Adults who live in towns with local smoke-free laws for bars and nightclubs were 7 times more likely to report no exposure to secondhand smoke while visiting these venues than adults who live in towns without smoke-free laws for bars and nightclubs.⁶
• Youth who live in towns with local smoke-free restaurant laws were 2 times more likely to report no exposure to secondhand smoke while visiting restaurants than youth who live in towns without smoke-free restaurant laws.⁷
• Employees whose workplaces had no smoking restrictions were 10 times more likely to report secondhand smoke exposure and were exposed 6 times as long compared with employees whose workplaces had 100% smoke-free policies.⁸
• Employees whose workplaces had designated smoking areas were 3 times more likely to report exposure to secondhand smoke and were exposed nearly twice as long compared with employees whose workplaces had 100% smoke-free policies.⁸

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006 [accessed 2011 Mar 11].
2. Farrelly MC, Nonnemaker JM, Chou R, Hyland A, Peterson KK, Bauer UE. Changes in Hospitality Workers' Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Following the Implementation of New York's Smoke-Free Law. Tobacco Control 2005;14(4):236–41 [cited 2011 Mar 11].
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reduced Secondhand Smoke Exposure After Implementation of a Comprehensive Statewide Smoking Ban–New York, June 26, 2003–June 30, 2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2007;56(28):705–8 [accessed 2011 Mar 11].
4. Akhtar PC, Currie DB, Currie CE, Haw SJ. Changes in Child Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (CHETS) Study After Implementation of Smoke-Free Legislation in Scotland: National Cross Sectional Survey. British Medical Journal 2007;335(7619):545–9 [cited 2011 Mar 11].
5. Haw SJ, Gruer L. Changes in Exposure of Adult Non-Smokers to Secondhand Smoke After Implementation of Smoke-Free Legislation in Scotland: National Cross Sectional Survey. British Medical Journal 2007;335(7619):549–53 [cited 2011 Mar 11].
6. Albers AB, Siegel M, Cheng DM, Rigotti NA, Biener L. Effects of Restaurant and Bar Smoking Regulations on Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Among Massachusetts Adults. American Journal of Public Health 2004;94(11):1959–64 [cited 2011 Mar 11].
7. Siegel M, Albers AB, Cheng DM, Biener L, Rigotti NA. Effect of Local Restaurant Smoking Regulations on Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among Youths. American Journal of Public Health 2004;94(2):321–5 [cited 2011 Mar 11].
8. Skeer M, Cheng DM, Rigotti NA, Siegel M. Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Workplace. American Journal of Preventive Medicine 2005;28(4):331–7 [cited 2011 Mar 11].

For Further Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO

Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line at 770-488-5493.