Wednesday, 11th October 2006, 07:17
The health of bar workers has soared since a ban on smoking in public places was introduced in Scotland, a new study reveals.

Staff monitored by researchers were found to have experienced significant benefits to their general well being as a result of the controversial legislation.

In the first major piece of research on the effects of the smoking ban bar staff, who normally suffer high levels of passive smoking, said there was almost immediate improvement in their health.

The team at the University of Dundee's asthma and allergy research group carried out a range of tests on bar staff in and around the area, 77 of whom completed the study.

Dr Daniel Menzies, who worked under the direction of group head Professor Brian Lipworth, said: "Our study shows that, across a number of health indicators, positive changes were evident even in the first two months following the introduction of the smoking ban, which is a very rapid change.

"We were looking at bar staff with symptoms attributable to cigarette smoke, and in those two months following the smoking ban the proportion showing symptoms fell from over 80 per cent to less than 50 per cent.

"We also recorded reductions in levels of nicotine in the bloodstream, breathing tests showed improvement in lung function of between five per cent and 10 per cent, and there was less inflammation in the bloodstream, a factor which inputs into areas such as cardiovascular health.

"The greatest changes we saw were within bar staff who were asthmatic, a group we specifically targetted. With these people we saw an overall improvement in their general quality of life.

"This was a comprehensive study looking at a range of factors that may be affected by the absence of passive cigarette smoke and the general conclusion is that the smoking ban does improve the health of people working in an atmosphere where previously there was a lot of smoke."

Most are full-time staff working in bars for around 30 hours per week. The average time spent working in bars was around nine years.

Those taking part in the study were subjected to tests one month before the smoking ban was implemented and then re-examined at periods of one and two months following the ban taking effect.

They were given breathing tests and a blood test to determine respiratory symptoms and levels of inflammation to the lungs and blood vessels. They were also given a quality of life questionnaire to complete.

The study published in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association, is the first major piece of medical research into the effects of the ban.

The health of staff who worked in often smoky atmospheres in pubs and clubs was widely cited as one of the chief reasons for introducing the ban which took effect on March 26th of this year.

The ban has been hailed as a step forward for health, but critics say it will cost jobs and infringe human rights. The impact is being watched closely in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where bans have also been planned.

MPs have voted in favour of a total ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces in England, which is due to come into effect in the summer of 2007. Northern Ireland is introducing a ban in April next year, while no date has been set yet in Wales.

Source:- LifeStyleExtra