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A Baseline Evaluation of Casino Air Quality After Enactment of Nevada's Clean Indoor Air Act
Author(s) -
York Nancy L.,
Lee Kiyoung
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
public health nursing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.471
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1525-1446
pISSN - 0737-1209
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1446.2010.00843.x
Subject(s) - secondhand smoke , particulates , indoor air , air quality index , significant difference , agency (philosophy) , environmental health , business , indoor air quality , battery (electricity) , environmental science , advertising , medicine , environmental engineering , geography , meteorology , chemistry , philosophy , organic chemistry , epistemology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Objective: The U.S. Surgeon General reports that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). The purpose of this study was to measure levels of fine particulate matter in nonsmoking casino restaurants after enactment of Nevada's Clean Indoor Air Act (NCIAA). Methods: Fine particulate matter <2.5 μm in diameter (PM 2.5 ) concentrations were measured in 16 casino hotel restaurants and gaming areas for a total of 32 venues. A battery‐operated SidePak aerosol monitor was discreetly used for at least 30 min in each venue. Results: Nonsmoking restaurant PM 2.5 levels ranged from 5 to 101 μg/m 3 ( M =31; SD =22.9) while gaming areas ranged from 20 to 73 μg/m 3 ( M =48; SD =15.9). There was a significant difference in PM 2.5 between restaurants and gaming areas, t (30)=−2.54, p =.017. There was also a strong correlation between the levels of restaurant PM 2.5 and gaming area PM 2.5 ( r =.71; p =.005). Conclusion: Fine PM 2.5 in all casino areas was above what the Environmental Protection Agency recommends as healthy. This information can be used to educate policy decision makers when discussing potential strengthening of the law.