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Carcinogens Found in Nonsmoking Workers Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in Oregon Bars and Restaurants Exempt from Clean Air Laws
Studying the impact of clean indoor air law exemptions on nonsmoking workers
Researchers at the Multnomah County Health Department in Portland, Ore., examined the prevalence of NNK, a known carcinogen associated solely with tobacco, among nonsmoking Oregon bar and restaurant workers in establishments where smoking was permitted and in those where it was prohibited.
The project was part of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's (RWJF) Substance Abuse Policy Research Program (SAPRP) (for more information see Program Results).
Key Findings:
- People exposed to workplace secondhand smoke had almost six times the odds of having NNK in their urine than unexposed workers.
- Exposure to workplace secondhand smoke was associated with nearly three times greater increase in the level of NNK in urine.
- Each hour of exposure to secondhand smoke at work was associated with about a six percent increase in the level of urinary NNK.
Substance Abuse Policy Research Program Project Results
Individual project results from the RWJF initiative, Substance Abuse Policy Research Program
Read the Program Results for Substance Abuse Policy Research Program View all