RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Legislation reduces exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke in New Zealand bars by about 90% JF Tobacco Control JO Tob Control FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP 235 OP 238 DO 10.1136/tc.2006.018614 VO 16 IS 4 A1 Dinusha Fernando A1 Jefferson Fowles A1 Alistair Woodward A1 Annemarie Christophersen A1 Stuart Dickson A1 Matthew Hosking A1 Richard Berezowski A1 Rod A Lea YR 2007 UL http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/16/4/235.abstract AB Aim: To measure exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in New Zealand bars before and after comprehensive smoke-free legislation enacted on 10 December 2004. Methods: Cotinine is the main specific metabolite of nicotine and a well-established biomarker for SHS exposure. We measured cotinine levels in saliva of non-smoking volunteers before and after a 3 h visit to 30 randomly selected bars in 3 cities across the country. Two measures of cotinine before the smoke-free law change during winter and spring 2004, and two follow-up measurements in the same volunteers and venues during winter and spring 2005, were included. Results: Before the smoke-free law change, in all bars and in all volunteers, exposure to SHS was evident with an average increase in saliva cotinine of 0.66 ng/ml (SE 0.03 ng/ml). Increases in cotinine correlated strongly with the volunteers’ subjective observation of ventilation, air quality and counts of lit cigarettes. However, even venues that were judged to be “seemingly smoke free” with “good ventilation” produced discernable levels of SHS exposure. After the law change, there remained some exposure to SHS, but at much lower levels (mean saliva cotinine increase of 0.08 ng/ml, SE 0.01 ng/ml). Smoking indoors in bars was almost totally eliminated: in 2005 only one lit cigarette was observed in 30 visits. Conclusions: Comprehensive smoke-free legislation in New Zealand seems to have reduced exposure of bar patrons to SHS by about 90%. Residual exposures to SHS in bars do not result from illicit smoking indoors.