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An evaluation of the indoor air quality in bars before and after a smoking ban in Austin, Texas

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 17, pages 260–268 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

This study assessed differences in the indoor air quality and occupancy levels in seventeen bars due to a city-wide smoking ban that took effect on September 1, 2005 in Austin, Texas, USA. We measured the following in each venue before and after the smoking ban: mean number of occupants, mean number of lit cigarettes, temperature, relative humidity, room volume, and PM2.5, CO, and CO2 concentrations. Additionally, VOC measurements were conducted at three of the venues. There was not a statistically significant change in occupancy, but the best estimate PM2.5 concentrations in the venues decreased 71–99%, a significant reduction in all venues, relative to the pre-ban levels; CO concentrations decreased significantly in all but one venue; and concentrations of VOCs known to be emitted from cigarettes decreased to below the detection limit for all but two common compounds. These results suggest that the smoking ban has effectively improved indoor air quality in Austin bars without an associated decrease in occupancy.

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Acknowledgements

The American Cancer Society provided funding for this research. Phil Huang and the staff at the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) collaborated on this study, acted as the second field team, and conducted the VOC sample analyses.

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  1. Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, C1752, Texas, USA

    Michael S Waring & Jeffrey A Siegel

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  1. Michael S Waring
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  2. Jeffrey A Siegel
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Correspondence to Jeffrey A Siegel.

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Waring, M., Siegel, J. An evaluation of the indoor air quality in bars before and after a smoking ban in Austin, Texas. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 17, 260–268 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500513

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