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Secondhand smoke exposure in bars and restaurants in Guatemala City: before and after smoking ban evaluation

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Abstract

Objective

In February 2009, Guatemala implemented a comprehensive smoking ban. We assessed air nicotine levels in bars and restaurants 6 months after the ban (post-ban) and compared them with levels found in 2006 (pre-ban).

Methods

Exposure was estimated by passive sampling of vapor-phase nicotine using samplers (n = 50) placed for 7 working days in 10 bars and 11 restaurants in Guatemala City. Air nicotine was measured by gas chromatography, and the time-weighted average concentration in μg/m3 was estimated. Employees answered a survey about smoke-free workplaces (n = 32) and compared with pre-ban (n = 37) results.

Results

Nicotine was detectable in all bars pre- and post-ban. In restaurants, it was detectable in all pre- and 73% post-ban. Median nicotine concentrations in bars significantly decreased from 4.58 μg/m3 (IQR, 1.71, 6.45) pre-ban to 0.28 μg/m3 (IQR 0.17, 0.66) post-ban (87% decrease). In restaurants, concentrations significantly decreased from 0.58 μg/m3 (IQR, 0.44, 0.71) to 0.04 μg/m3 (IQR 0.01, 0.11) (95% decrease). Employees’ support for a smoke-free workplace increased in the post-ban survey (from 32 to 81%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Six months after the implementation of a smoke-free law in Guatemala, nicotine levels were significantly decreased in bars and restaurants and workers’ support for the law substantially increased.

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Acknowledgments

Financial support: Funded by the Cardiovascular Unit of Guatemala (UNICAR) with additional support from the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (FAMRI).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiovascular Unit of Guatemala, Guatemala City, Guatemala

    Joaquin Barnoya, Mariel Arvizu & Juan C. Hernandez

  2. Department of Surgery Prevention and Control, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Joaquin Barnoya

  3. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Miranda R. Jones, Patrick N. Breysse & Ana Navas-Acien

  4. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Miranda R. Jones & Ana Navas-Acien

  5. Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Patrick N. Breysse & Ana Navas-Acien

  6. 6ª Av 8-71 zona 10. Clinica #3 Ala Sur.Guatemala, Guatemala, 01010, Guatemala

    Joaquin Barnoya

Authors
  1. Joaquin Barnoya
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  2. Mariel Arvizu
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  3. Miranda R. Jones
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  4. Juan C. Hernandez
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  6. Ana Navas-Acien
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Correspondence to Joaquin Barnoya.

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Barnoya, J., Arvizu, M., Jones, M.R. et al. Secondhand smoke exposure in bars and restaurants in Guatemala City: before and after smoking ban evaluation. Cancer Causes Control 22, 151–156 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9673-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9673-8

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