Environmental and economic evaluation of the Massachusetts Smoke-Free Workplace Law

Journal Article

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Journal of community health

J.Community Health

Aug

269

281

JID: 7600747; 0 (Particulate Matter); 0 (Tobacco Smoke Pollution); ppublish

United States

0094-5145; 0094-5145

PMID: 17696050

eng

Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; IM

Unknown(0)

17696050

An environmental and economic evaluation of the smoke-free law in Massachusetts provides a broad appreciation of how a state-wide smoking ban affects the health of patrons and workers as well as the industries that are commonly concerned about the effects of smoking bans on business. The aim of this study is to evaluate environmental and economic effects of the statewide Massachusetts statewide Smoke-Free Workplace Law. Before and after the smoking ban, air quality testing was conducted in a sample (n = 27) of hospitality venues and state-wide economic changes were assessed. Compliance, in terms of patronage was measured by person-counts. Environmental outcomes were respirable suspended particles (RSP) less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). Economic outcomes were meals tax collections, employment in the food services and drinking places and accommodations industries. On average, levels of respirable suspended particles (RSPs) less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) decreased 93% in these venues after the Massachusetts Smoke-free Workplace Law went into effect. No statistically significant changes were observed among the economic indicators. This evaluation demonstrates that the state-wide Massachusetts law has effectively improved indoor air quality in a sample of Massachusetts venues and has not negatively affected several economic indicators.

Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis, Environmental Monitoring, Humans, Massachusetts, Occupational Exposure/legislation & jurisprudence/prevention & control, Particulate Matter/analysis, Public Facilities/legislation & jurisprudence, Restaurants/economics/legislation & jurisprudence, Smoking/economics/legislation & jurisprudence/prevention & control, Taxes, Tobacco Smoke Pollution/economics/legislation & jurisprudence/prevention & control, Workplace/legislation & jurisprudence

Alpert,H. R., Carpenter,C. M., Travers,M. J., Connolly,G. N.

Harvard School of Public Health, Division of Public Health Practice, Tobacco Research Program, 401 Park Drive, Landmark Building, Floor 3E, Boston, MA 02215, USA. halpert@hsph.harvard.edu

http://vp9py7xf3h.search.serialssolutions.com/?charset=utf-8&pmid=17696050

2007