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Staff 'exposed to 86% less smoke' Staff 'exposed to 86% less smoke'
(about 13 hours later)
Scotland's bar workers are now exposed to 86% less smoke following the ban on smoking in enclosed public places, according to new research.Scotland's bar workers are now exposed to 86% less smoke following the ban on smoking in enclosed public places, according to new research.
The results will be revealed to Holyrood's health committee as it considers the effectiveness of the ban, which came into effect last March. The results was revealed to Holyrood's health committee as it considers the effectiveness of the ban, which came into effect on 26 March.
Aberdeen University researchers have been examining the precise effect of the ban on bar staff. Aberdeen University researchers have been commissioned to study the effect the law has had on air quality in pubs.
Studies on the health effects will not be complete until later this year. They said the air quality inside most bars was now comparable with outdoors.
Professor Jon Ayres, who is leading the study, said: "We have shown that bar workers are now exposed to 86% less smoke than they were before the ban. The Aberdeen University team and the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh measured the air quality inside 41 Scottish pubs in the two months leading up to the ban and again in May and June 2006.
"That's a very substantial reduction in exposure." The researchers also carried out studies with 371 bar workers from across Scotland to investigate respiratory health.
In October, it was revealed that researchers at Dundee University found significant health improvements in the first two months after the ban. However, the complete results of the study will not be available until the end of the year.
The team recorded reductions in levels of nicotine in the bloodstream and breathing tests showed improvement in lung function of as much as 10%. This research proves the ban is working Andy KerrHealth Minister
Professor Jon Ayres of Aberdeen University, who is leading the research, said: "These findings confirm the dramatic effect that smoking cessation in pubs and bars can have on air quality.
"This can only be to the benefit of bar staff and customers alike.
"It will be of great interest to see the results of our health assessments from this largest ever study of the effects of a smoking ban on bar workers' health."
Health Minister Andy Kerr welcomed the findings.
He said: "Exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke was one of the main problems the smoking ban was designed to tackle.
"This research proves it's working.
"I welcome the fact the damage to health that passive smoking may once have done is no longer affecting staff and customers in Scotland's pubs, bars and restaurants."