The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Tobacco control laws not strictly enforced in State, says study

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Monday, Nov 23, 2009
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Tobacco control laws not strictly enforced in State, says study

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram tops the list of violators

Air pollution higher than hazardous levels
Study finds air quality better in Kottayam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: One year after the Union government enacted the smoke-free air law, restricting smoking in public places, to protect individuals from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, it is observed more in the breach, according to an Air Quality Monitoring Study conducted in 16 cities across the country.

Among the cities in Kerala chosen for the study, Thiruvananthapuram emerged on top when it came to violation of the smoke-free air law, followed by Ernakulam and Alappuzha.

It observed that at all bars and toddy shops that the study team visited in Kerala, the air pollution was nine to 20 times higher than the hazardous level. It found that the air quality in rural bars was more hazardous than that in urban bars.

The study was conducted by the Voluntary Health Association of India in September 2009, to help evaluate the quality of air in public places like restaurants, bars and pubs. The air quality study was conducted by measuring particulate air pollution from second-hand smoke in 33 different indoor hospitality locations like restaurants, bars and movie theatres during their peak business hours. All these locations were required to be smoke-free as per the law.

The air quality was measured by TSI Sidepak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitors. The data collected was analysed by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in New York, U.S.

According to the law enacted by India to contain second-hand smoking — Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act — smoking is not allowed in enclosed public spaces. However, places serving 30 or more persons may allow smoking as long as dedicated smoking rooms (DSRs) have been set up.

The Kerala Voluntary Health Association, which conducted the study in the State, found that out of the 33 public places they had chosen, smoking was rampant in 29 places. All bars and toddy shops were being run in smoke-filled rooms.

The law says that bars and restaurants serving 30 or more persons may allow smoking as long as these have Designated Smoking Rooms. The law also specifies strict guidelines on how the DSRs should be structured so that smoke in these rooms does not permeate into other parts of the establishment. No food or drink should be served in these rooms so as to protect the workers from second-hand smoke.

However, none of the bars or restaurants that the study team visited in Kerala had DSRs. The ‘No Smoking’ sign boards were not displayed in almost 80 per cent of the establishments that the team visited. The fine particulate pollution of bars in Thiruvananthapuram is 12 times higher than the locations where there was no smoking. In cinema theatres in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha and Ernakulam, where smoking was rampant, the air quality was three times higher than the hazardous level set for adults and 20 times higher than the hazard level set for children and pregnant women.

The study team, however, found that in Kottayam, where the district administration has been effectively enforcing the tobacco control laws, the air quality in bars was better. Cinema theatres in Kottayam were also found to be totally smoke-free.

According to the Kerala Voluntary Health Association of India, the study is consistent with the WHO findings that indoor smoking raises the levels of air pollution severely. It also pointed to the need for better commitment from the administration as well as the public in implementing tobacco control laws.

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