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Indoor air quality in prisons before and after implementation of a smoking ban law.
Tob Control. 2008 Apr; 17(2):123-7.TC

Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To ascertain whether a new indoor smoking ban law in North Carolina correctional facilities was successfully implemented and whether the indoor air quality has improved as a result.

METHOD

Before the law came into effect, we tested the air quality of 22 dormitory and common areas within six North Carolina prisons using standard protocols for testing particulate matter. We measured particulate matter 2.5 microm in diameter (PM(2.5)) using state of the art TSI SidePak monitors. After the law went into effect, the same locations within each prison were tested again. Written inmate surveys were also conducted at two prisons, one with partial smoking ban (indoors only) and one with a total smoking ban (indoors and outdoors).

RESULTS

The findings indicate that, on average, levels of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs), an accepted marker for secondhand smoke (SHS) levels, decreased 77% in these prisons after the law took effect compared to levels obtained before ban implementation. Several areas were tobacco-free before the implementation of this ban. In those areas no significant decreases in RSPs were noted.

CONCLUSION

Laws banning tobacco use in correctional facilities can significantly reduce indoor SHS exposure among inmates, visitors and staff and potentially lead to reduced use. To date, 24 US states have enacted 100% smoke-free correctional facility policies for all indoor areas even though inmates and staff have much higher tobacco use prevalence rates than the general population. With an estimated nine million people incarcerated worldwide, prison smoking bans could have a substantial impact in terms of health outcomes and long-term costs if they can effectively reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Publisher Full Text (DOI)

Authors+Show Affiliations

Proescholdbell SK
Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch, Division of Public Health, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, 1932 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1932, USA. scott.proescholdbell@ncmail.net
Foley KL
No affiliation info available
Johnson J
No affiliation info available
Malek SH
No affiliation info available

MeSH

AdultAir Pollution, IndoorHealth PolicyHumansNorth CarolinaParticulate MatterPrisonsSmokingTobacco Smoke Pollution

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Language

eng

PubMed ID

18285386

Citation

Proescholdbell, S K., et al. "Indoor Air Quality in Prisons Before and After Implementation of a Smoking Ban Law." Tobacco Control, vol. 17, no. 2, 2008, pp. 123-7.
Proescholdbell SK, Foley KL, Johnson J, et al. Indoor air quality in prisons before and after implementation of a smoking ban law. Tob Control. 2008;17(2):123-7.
Proescholdbell, S. K., Foley, K. L., Johnson, J., & Malek, S. H. (2008). Indoor air quality in prisons before and after implementation of a smoking ban law. Tobacco Control, 17(2), 123-7. https://doi.org/10.1136/tc.2007.022038
Proescholdbell SK, et al. Indoor Air Quality in Prisons Before and After Implementation of a Smoking Ban Law. Tob Control. 2008;17(2):123-7. PubMed PMID: 18285386.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Indoor air quality in prisons before and after implementation of a smoking ban law. AU - Proescholdbell,S K, AU - Foley,K L, AU - Johnson,J, AU - Malek,S H, Y1 - 2008/02/19/ PY - 2008/2/21/pubmed PY - 2008/8/16/medline PY - 2008/2/21/entrez SP - 123 EP - 7 JF - Tobacco control JO - Tob Control VL - 17 IS - 2 N2 - OBJECTIVE: To ascertain whether a new indoor smoking ban law in North Carolina correctional facilities was successfully implemented and whether the indoor air quality has improved as a result. METHOD: Before the law came into effect, we tested the air quality of 22 dormitory and common areas within six North Carolina prisons using standard protocols for testing particulate matter. We measured particulate matter 2.5 microm in diameter (PM(2.5)) using state of the art TSI SidePak monitors. After the law went into effect, the same locations within each prison were tested again. Written inmate surveys were also conducted at two prisons, one with partial smoking ban (indoors only) and one with a total smoking ban (indoors and outdoors). RESULTS: The findings indicate that, on average, levels of respirable suspended particulates (RSPs), an accepted marker for secondhand smoke (SHS) levels, decreased 77% in these prisons after the law took effect compared to levels obtained before ban implementation. Several areas were tobacco-free before the implementation of this ban. In those areas no significant decreases in RSPs were noted. CONCLUSION: Laws banning tobacco use in correctional facilities can significantly reduce indoor SHS exposure among inmates, visitors and staff and potentially lead to reduced use. To date, 24 US states have enacted 100% smoke-free correctional facility policies for all indoor areas even though inmates and staff have much higher tobacco use prevalence rates than the general population. With an estimated nine million people incarcerated worldwide, prison smoking bans could have a substantial impact in terms of health outcomes and long-term costs if they can effectively reduce exposure to secondhand smoke. SN - 1468-3318 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/18285386/Indoor_air_quality_in_prisons_before_and_after_implementation_of_a_smoking_ban_law_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -