AAAR 35th Annual Conference October 17 - October 21, 2016 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
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PM2.5 Concentration inside Smoking and Non-smoking Hospitality Venues: Results from a Study Examining 20 Matched Pairs in Atlanta, Georgia
ROBY GREENWALD, Amanda Renée Gailey, Rodney Lyn, Georgia State University
Abstract Number: 564 Working Group: Indoor Aerosols
Abstract As part of the Fulton County (Georgia) Partnership to Improve Community Health project, we conducted PM2.5 sampling at smoking and non-smoking hospitality venues in the Atlanta region. We compiled a list of all venues licensed to sell alcohol in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, Roswell, and Union City as well as unincorporated portions of Fulton County. Study staff identified 105 bars or restaurants that allow smoking in an indoor area. We selected 20 venues at random from this list and matched them with 20 venues that prohibit smoking on the entire premises. This matching was performed in terms of venue type, size, geographic location, and targeted demographic (if any). We conducted all sampling during a 2-week period in February 2016 and visited each location during their peak occupancy hours. Matched pairs were visited consecutively on the same day or night. The sampling teams visited all venues as normal customers and unobtrusively carried monitoring equipment on their persons. We used TSI SidePak Personal Aerosol Monitors (model AM510) to measure PM2.5 concentration. These monitors were calibrated against co-located filter samples obtained in a subset of smoking venues. The sampling protocol called for 15 minutes of outdoor sampling followed by at least 30 minutes inside. The number of smoking and non-smoking patrons was recorded every 5 minutes. The PM2.5 concentration was 151±178 microgram/m3 inside of smoking venues and 14±17 microgram/m3 inside of non-smoking venues. The mean difference between matched pairs was 113±103 microgram/m3 for indoor concentration and 0.19±5.6 microgram/m3 for outdoor concentration. The difference between indoor and outdoor PM2.5 at non-smoking venues was 5.9 microgram/m3, likely as a result of cooking activities, whereas at smoking venues, it was 144 microgram/m3. These results will be used by county health officials as part of a campaign to encourage voluntary compliance with an initiative for smoke-free public spaces.