Indoor air in France among the world's most polluted by tobacco smoke

Indoor air in France, workplaces and public places, is among the most polluted by tobacco smoke in the world, according to an international study, which justifies a total ban on smoking in public places, says the National Committee against smoking (NCTC), in a statement

A danger in the air

The results of this study show that the quality of indoor air in public places in France is "dangerous," the NCTC that "unclear how the government could simply adopt only a half-measure that would include exceptions, derogations, smokers or other 'facilities' for places which are precisely the most polluted. "

The parliamentary delegation of the National Assembly on banning smoking in public places has submitted its report. The Health Minister, Xavier Bertrand, said he was preparing a decree to institute a ban on smoking in public places with exceptions.

The study of indoor air specified by the NCTC was coordinated by the International Agency for Research against Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York and the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.

It was conducted in 24 countries between 2003 and 2006, the French part being provided by the National Cancer Institute (Inca) which implements in France the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization Health Organization (WHO), which came into force in February 2005 and ratified by 130 countries.

In this 17-page report, the authors indicate that the air quality was tested in 1212 places, restaurants, bars, airports, train stations, hotels, shopping centers, offices, etc.. Every day of the week and several times of the day, in smokers and non-smokers places, using a measuring device of fine particles (PM2, 5).

In the executive summary of the Inca, whose APM Health had copy, it is reported that 57 measurements were made in Paris, Rennes and Lyon, in 53 different places (airports, train stations, hospitals, universities, businesses, clubs, breweries, restaurants, pubs and bars, tobacco), between noon and 5:00 in the morning.

The average concentration of PM2, 5 for France is 380 μg/m3, which is considered a "hazardous" air according to the scale of the U.S. Agency for Environmental Protection (Environmental Protection Agency) that goes "good" with less than 15 μg/m3 to "dangerous" above 250 μg/m3 concentration.

The rate is even 784 μg/m3 on average in places where tobacco smoke is present, then it is only 37 μg/m3 in the absence of smoke (moderate quality). The minimum reading was 3 μg/m3 in a fast food place completely non smoking while the maximum was 2397 μg/m3 in a nightclub.

Overall, 42.10% of the measurements show a dangerous air quality, 10.50% very unhealthy, unhealthy 15.8%, 5.3% unhealthy for sensitive people, 14% moderate and 12.3% good.

The Inca first notes in public places subject to the Evin law when clear display is set up, the smoking ban is generally respected. In airports, hospitals and universities, which are totally non-smokers principle, the air quality is good to moderate.

However, at stations, the Evin law is poorly respected despite displays and audio announcements: the air quality varies from unhealthy to very unhealthy.

In restaurants and brewery, the air quality is very unhealthy average and is dangerous in bars and brasseries. The seven measures exceeding 1000 μg/m3 were made in one of these places.

Dispersion of particles in the case of partial ban

For businesses, the Inca highlights the risks of a partial ban on smoking in the workplace because, in an establishment where the measurements were carried out only non-smoking floor, the air quality is very unhealthy. Demarcated areas do not prevent the dispersion of fine particles in the air, say the authors.

The Inca finds a "critical situation" in the area of hotels, bars, restaurants and nightclubs and "insufficiently perceived" in the workplace.

Data from the international study to assess the situation in France.

In Ireland, the first country to put in place in March 2004 legislation totally banning smoking in the workplace and the home interior or covered public, the average PM2, 5 is 29 μg/m3 (figure from another study that the Circ). This rate reached 14 μg/m3 in New Zealand, which has also strengthened its legislation in December 2004.

Apart from these two countries, all others have a poor indoor air quality. Half of the countries have tested a dangerous air, the rate of PM2, 5 being the highest in Syria. France is located in the sixth worst position, after Romania, Lebanon, Belgium and Singapore.

Nine countries have a very unhealthy air quality and unhealthy quality. Canada with an average PM2, 5 is just on the edge of the quality unhealthy for sensitive people.

The study also noted the difference in quality of indoor air for different types of places and in the presence or absence of tobacco smoke, and highlighting the benefits of a total ban on smoking.

Thus, for all countries, the average PM2, 5 restaurants where smoking is allowed is 261 μg/m3 while it drops to 36 μg/m3 when tobacco is prohibited. These rates are respectively 494 μg/m3 and 28 μg/m3 in the bars, 248 μg/m3 and 33 μg/m3 in stations and airports.

Overall, these results show that the places where tobacco smoke is absent are less polluted than those in which it operates around the world, conclude the authors of the study, recognizing that particles from other sources were measured .

Passive smoking has been recognized as a human carcinogen by IARC.