BACKGROUND: Smoke-free legislation eliminating tobacco smoke in all indoor public places and workplaces is the international standard to protect all people from exposure to secondhand smoke. Uruguay was the first country in the Americas and the first middle-income country in the world to enact a comprehensive smoke-free national legislation in March 2006. OBJECTIVE: To compare air nicotine concentrations measured in indoor public places and workplaces in Montevideo, Uruguay before (November 2002) and after (July 2007) the implementation of the national legislation. METHODS: Air nicotine concentrations were measured for 7-14 days using the same protocol in schools, a hospital, a local government building, an airport and restaurants and bars. A total of 100 and 103 nicotine samples were available in 2002 and 2007, respectively. RESULTS: Median (IQR) air nicotine concentrations in the study samples were 0.75 (0.2-1.54) microg/m(3) in 2002 compared to 0.07 (0.0-0.20) microg/m(3) in 2007. The overall nicotine reduction comparing locations sampled in 2007 to those sampled in 2002 was 91% (95% CI 85% to 94%) after adjustment for differences in room volume and ventilation. The greatest nicotine reduction was observed in schools (97% reduction), followed by the airport (94% reduction), the hospital (89% reduction), the local government building (86% reduction) and restaurants/bars (81% reduction). CONCLUSION: Exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased greatly in indoor public places and workplaces in Montevideo, Uruguay, after the implementation of a comprehensive national smoke-free legislation. These findings suggest that it is possible to successfully implement smoke-free legislations in low and middle-income countries.
BACKGROUND: Smoke-free legislation eliminating tobacco smoke in all indoor public places and workplaces is the international standard to protect all people from exposure to secondhand smoke. Uruguay was the first country in the Americas and the first middle-income country in the world to enact a comprehensive smoke-free national legislation in March 2006. OBJECTIVE: To compare air nicotine concentrations measured in indoor public places and workplaces in Montevideo, Uruguay before (November 2002) and after (July 2007) the implementation of the national legislation. METHODS: Air nicotine concentrations were measured for 7-14 days using the same protocol in schools, a hospital, a local government building, an airport and restaurants and bars. A total of 100 and 103 nicotine samples were available in 2002 and 2007, respectively. RESULTS: Median (IQR) air nicotine concentrations in the study samples were 0.75 (0.2-1.54) microg/m(3) in 2002 compared to 0.07 (0.0-0.20) microg/m(3) in 2007. The overall nicotine reduction comparing locations sampled in 2007 to those sampled in 2002 was 91% (95% CI 85% to 94%) after adjustment for differences in room volume and ventilation. The greatest nicotine reduction was observed in schools (97% reduction), followed by the airport (94% reduction), the hospital (89% reduction), the local government building (86% reduction) and restaurants/bars (81% reduction). CONCLUSION: Exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased greatly in indoor public places and workplaces in Montevideo, Uruguay, after the implementation of a comprehensive national smoke-free legislation. These findings suggest that it is possible to successfully implement smoke-free legislations in low and middle-income countries.
Authors: Van T Tong; Paola Morello; Alicia Alemán; Carolyn Johnson; Patricia M Dietz; Sherry L Farr; Agustina Mazzoni; Mabel Berrueta; Mercedes Colomar; Alvaro Ciganda; Ana Becú; Maria G Bittar Gonzalez; Laura Llambi; Luz Gibbons; Ruben A Smith; Pierre Buekens; José M Belizán; Fernando Althabe Journal: Matern Child Health J Date: 2015-06
Authors: Wilfred Agbenyikey; Edith Wellington; John Gyapong; Mark J Travers; Patrick N Breysse; Kathleen M McCarty; Ana Navas-Acien Journal: Tob Control Date: 2010-10-07 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Ernesto Marcelo Sebrié; Edgardo Sandoya; Andrew Hyland; Eduardo Bianco; Stanton A Glantz; K Michael Cummings Journal: Tob Control Date: 2012-02-15 Impact factor: 7.552
Authors: Carla J Berg; Geoffrey T Fong; James F Thrasher; Joanna E Cohen; Wasim Maziak; Harry Lando; Jeffrey Drope; Raul Mejia; Joaquin Barnoya; Rima Nakkash; Ramzi G Salloum; Mark Parascandola Journal: Addict Behav Date: 2018-07-17 Impact factor: 3.913