Fumo passivo in bar, ristoranti e discoteche della città di Firenze

Background: "Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure in a sample of European cities" is the first European multicentre project intended to measure ETS exposure in public places in a number of European cities. Objectives: To present results of measurements of nicotine concentration in a number of bars, restaurants and discotheques in Florence, Italy. Methods: The ETS marker was vapour-phase nicotine sampled by passive monitors. At least two monitors were placed in each of seven bars (five in hospitals; one at an airport; one at a railway station), and seven restaurants (three with smoking and non-smoking sections), and left in place for several days. In each of four discotheques two nicotine passive monitors were used as personal samplers. Results: The average nicotine concentration in discotheques, restaurants and bars was respectively 26.78 μ/m³, 2.32 μg/m³ and 0.83 μg/m³. In the smoking section of restaurants with separated areas for smokers and non-smokers the average nicotine concentration was 2.54 μg/m³, which was similar to that measured in non-smoking sections (2.14 μg/m³).