Studies show that the level of secondhand smoke is higher in bars and casinos than in any other smoking zone. Experts are of the opinion that a mere 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke can leave a person open to risks of coronary heart diseases and heart attacks.
Bars and casinos have been reported to be 300 to 600% richer and potent in secondhand smoke. Restaurants also seem to record high secondhand smoke levels accounting for 160 to 200% more of the secondhand smoke people are exposed to.
Benzene, cadmium and arsenic are some of the harmful chemicals that secondhand smoke carries with itself. All blue collar workplaces like factories and hospitals are also persistently contaminated with similar toxins.
Facts related to high secondhand smoke levels in bars and restaurants:
- Studies suggest that tobacco smoke has hit the food-service workers in restaurants to a great extent. Evidence further support the view that tobacco exposure is going to increase the risks of lung cancer by 50 % among workers engaged in food-service industries.
- Restaurants are reported to be 1.6 to 2 times richer in secondhand smoke than in any other business places. Also restaurants are said to be 1.5 times higher in secondhand smoke as compared to residential places with at least one smoker.
- In case of bars, the ratio is quiet the same with secondhand smoke levels being 3.9 to 6.1 times higher than in official workplaces. Secondhand smoke levels in bars were also considered to be 4.4 to 4.5 times higher than in residential areas.
The need of the hour is to ban or curb smoking in bars, casinos and restaurants where people are working to sustain themselves and their families. Researches further go onto claim that people exposed to such harmful levels of toxins through secondhand smoke or otherwise are 53 times more vulnerable to getting lung cancer.
It has also been reported that a smoke free bar provision in California improved the health of bar workers affected by secondhand smoke.
