Abstract
BackgroundImplementation of smoke free policies has potentially substantial effects on health by reducing secondhand smoke exposure. However little is known about whether the introduction of anti-smoking legislation translates into decreased secondhand smoke exposure. We examined whether smoking bans impact rates of secondhand smoke exposure in public places and rates of complete workplace smoking restriction.MethodsCanadian Community Health Survey was used to obtain secondhand smoking exposure rates in 15 Ontario municipalities. Data analysis included descriptive summaries and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and compared across groupsResultsAcross all studied municipalities, secondhand smoke exposure in public places decreased by 4.7% and workplace exposure decreased by 2.3% between the 2003 and 2005 survey years. The only jurisdiction to implement a full ban from no previous ban was also the only setting that experienced significant decreases in both individual exposure to secondhand smoke in a public place (-17.3%, 95% CI -22.8, -11.8) and workplace exposure (-18.1%, 95% CI -24.9, -11.3). Exposures in vehicles and homes declined in almost all settings over time.ConclusionsImplementation of a full smoking ban was associated with the largest decreases in secondhand smoke exposure while partial bans and changes in existing bans had inconsistent effects. In addition to decreasing exposure in public places as would be expected from legislation, bans may have additional benefits by decreasing rates of current smokers and decreasing exposures to secondhand smoke in private settings.
Highlights
IntroductionIntroduction of Full Ban from PreviousPartial Ban. Introduction of Partial Ban from NoPrevious Ban Durham Region
Introduction of Full Ban from PreviousPartial Ban
Two cross-sectional studies conducted in Scotland before and after the introduction of a statewide smoking ban are in agreement with our results even though they measured salivary continine [4], [13], [14])
Summary
Introduction of Full Ban from PreviousPartial Ban. Introduction of Partial Ban from NoPrevious Ban Durham Region. We found that exposures in both vehicles and at home decreased following the introduction of bans These results are consistent with the results of a cross-sectional survey in Scotland, which found no increase in secondhand exposure among children after the implementation of a smoking ban [14]. The introduction of anti-smoking legislation was followed by declines in exposures in multiples environments across all municipalities. Municipalities with the earliest introduction of full smoking bans had the lowest rates of SHS exposure in a public place. Little is known about whether the introduction of anti-smoking legislation translates into decreased secondhand smoke exposure. Little is known about whether the introduction of anti-smoking legislation translates into decreased SHS exposure.
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