Environmental tobacco smoke awareness and exposure: impact of a statewide clean indoor air law and the report of the US Environmental Protection Agency

• Published in: Tobacco control 1995-06, Vol.4 (2), p.132-138
• Main Authors: Brownson, R. C., Davis, J. R., Jackson-Thompson, J., Wilkerson, J. C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti smoking movements; Cigarette smoking; Environmental agencies; Environmental protection; Environmental regulation; Epidemiology; Indoor environments; Passive smoking; Public health; Secondhand smoke; State law; Tobacco smoking; Workplaces
• ISSN: 0964-4563; 1468-3318
• DOI: 10.1136/tc.4.2.132

Objective — To determine whether a statewide clean indoor air law and the report of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) affected awareness of and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Design — Cross sectional telephone survey. Setting — Missouri, United States, 1990-1993. Participants — Population based sample of Missouri residents aged ≥ 18 years (n = 6052). Main outcome measures — A special series of questions was added to ascertain environmental tobacco smoke awareness, workplace and home exposure, and actions to reduce restaurant exposure. Results — Awareness of the state law increased following enactment (p < 0.001). Workplace exposure varied between the pre- and the post-state law periods (44.2% v 34.7%; p < 0.001). A slight decline in workplace environmental tobacco smoke exposure before the state law was enacted accelerated after it was enacted. The report of the EPA did not appear to increase this trend. Self reported home exposure to environmental tobacco smoke did not vary significantly over the study period. The percentage of non-smokers asking to be seated in the non-smoking section of a restaurant increased in the post-state law period. Conclusions — A statewide clean indoor air law is beneficial in reducing non-smokers' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Despite improvements, non-smoker exposure to environmental tobacco smoke remains widespread, and more comprehensive measures are necessary.