Background
There are discrepancies about whether to allow or not smoking in certain outdoor places. Those who oppose to such a ban argue that it is ethically untenable and that there is insufficient evidence that second-hand smoke (SHS) in these areas have a real impact on health to justify this regulation. However, scientific evidence suggests that there is no safe level of exposure to SHS. Therefore, the ones who agree with the regulation argue that if smoking is not prohibited in some outdoor areas, non-smokers could be exposed to higher SHS levels than those indoors where smoking is not allowed.

Overall objective
To describe the exposure to SHS in different outdoor places, such as open or semi-open areas next to indoor places where smoking is not permitted (e.g., entrances of buildings, terraces of bars and restaurants) and other open or semi-open areas where the current Spanish legislation (and the ones of other European Union countries) allows smoking.

Methodology
Cross-sectional study of a sample of open or semi-open places (for partial coverage), where smoking is not prohibited in accordance with Law 42/2010. The sample includes entrances to public buildings (n = 50), terraces of bars and restaurants (n = 50), public transportation stops (buses, n = 50), school sport facilities and sports facilities (football pitches and sport centres, athletics stadiums; n = 20) and other complexes (open or semi-open shopping centres, markets, flea markets, etc.; n = 10).

Duration
2012-2014 (extended until 2015). Currently in the phase of data analysis and publication of results.

Financial support
Grant PI11-02054 (56,265.00 €, in three annual payments) from the Health Research Fund of the Institute of Health Carlos III (European Regional Development Fund, ERDF).

Research Team

• Esteve Fernández (Principal Investigator, ICO-IDIBELL)
• Montse Ballbè (ICO-IDIBELL)
• Esther Carabasa (ICO-IDBELL)
• Francesc Centric (ASPB)
• Ariadna Feliu (UCT ICO-IDIBELL)
• Marcela Fu (ICO-IDIBELL)
• María José López (ASPB)
• Glòria Muñoz (ASPB)
• Esteve Saltó (DS, ICO-IDIBELL)
• Xisca Sureda (ICO-IDIBELL).

Publications

• Sureda X, Fernández E., López MJ i Nebot M. (2013). Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure in open and semi-open settings: a systematic review. Environmental Health Perspectives. 2013, 121, 766-73.

Bachelor thesis (Biomedical Sciences, University of Barcelona)

• Second-hand smoke in hospitality venues: indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations

News

• News regarding publication in EHP at the same journal “Outdoor Smoking Areas: Does the Science Support a Ban?“
• Article by Núria Jar publish at BigVang from La Vanguardia: “Fumar en la puerta del bar también perjudica a los que están dentro” (31th may 2016)