A day at the European Respiratory Society Congress: passive smoking influences both outdoor and indoor air quality

Abstract

To the Editors: Outdoor and indoor air quality is a well known determinant of human health 1. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a recognised risk factor for respiratory diseases 2 and the most important source of indoor particulate matter (PM) pollution 3. In recent years, several countries have issued smoking policy rules to protect nonsmoking people from ETS with a good compliance 4. This year, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress was held in Copenhagen (Denmark), a country where, like many others, comprehensive anti-smoking rules are not yet fully endorsed 5. In fact, although smoking has been restricted in state-owned governmental premises since 1988, the legislation doesn't apply to the hospitality industry or to workplaces in the private sector. The ERS has made the case of passive smoking one of utmost importance for respiratory prevention 6. Congress participants were advised to refrain from smoking both inside and in front of the Copenhagen Congress venue at the Bella Center, which was indicated by signs stating the following: “Tobacco is the major cause of lung disease. Please refrain from smoking in and …