A University of Georgia study suggests that indoor smoking bans are simply moving the health hazard outside.
Professor Luke Naeher and students in UGA’s College of Public Health have been monitoring the air quality at various locations in downtown Athens. They also counted the number of smokers and vehicles passing each location. Their research showed that pollution increased dramatically in proportion to the number of smokers, but the cars had little effect.
According to the study, the amount of second-hand smoke was highest outside of bars. Athens-Clarke County smokers have moved out onto the sidewalks since a 24-hour indoor smoking ban was put into effect two years ago. Naeher says the next step is to takes samples of urine and saliva from people gathering outside the establishments, to see how much second-hand smoke may be affecting them.
Professor Luke Naeher and students in UGA’s College of Public Health have been monitoring the air quality at various locations in downtown Athens. They also counted the number of smokers and vehicles passing each location. Their research showed that pollution increased dramatically in proportion to the number of smokers, but the cars had little effect.
According to the study, the amount of second-hand smoke was highest outside of bars. Athens-Clarke County smokers have moved out onto the sidewalks since a 24-hour indoor smoking ban was put into effect two years ago. Naeher says the next step is to takes samples of urine and saliva from people gathering outside the establishments, to see how much second-hand smoke may be affecting them.
