Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here
What Can I Do?


Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP
Resources
Resources
Find useful publications, online documents & more.


DrugScreening.org


 

Study: N.Y. Bar Workers Benefit from Smoking Ban
March 10, 2004

Email
Email
Print
Print
SubscribeSubscribe
Research Summary

Saliva-test samples from bartenders in upstate New York show that the 9-month-old state smoking ban is lowering workers' exposure to nicotine byproducts, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported March 9.

The testing of 48 bar and restaurant workers by the New York Department of Health shows an 85-percent drop in cotinine levels among nonsmokers. Cotinine is a nicotine byproduct that is found in the body fluids of people who have inhaled tobacco smoke. Researchers use it to determine a person's exposure to 60 other known cancer-causing chemicals found in cigarette and cigar smoke.

"The implications of that are if you work in a bar you are now less likely to have an asthmatic attack, have colds and respiratory problems, ear infections, less likely to be exposed to carcinogens," said Dr. K. Michael Cummings, an administrator at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. "A person would feel different. Their eyes won't water as much. They're not as stuffy when they finish work."

The saliva testing is the first study conducted to determine the effectiveness of the smoking ban. The Health Department is conducting several other studies to measure the smoking ban's impact on workers' health.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Your Turn! Post a public comment (read guidelines):

Name:

Comment:
(limit 200
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

GUIDELINES: 
To keep this feature useful for everyone, please:

  1. Keep it clean, courteous, focused, and on-topic. Comments are meant for thoughtful discussion of the article published above.

  2. Do not post personal requests for help or general promotions for your organization (Get help).

  3. Proof your comments carefully, use good spelling and punctuation, and don't use ALL CAPS. Comments are published immediately and cannot be edited.

Deceptive, slanderous and commercially-motivated posts are prohibited. We reserve the right to remove comments not conforming to these guidelines. (Report a comment).

Have questions or feedback? Contact us.