Research Article

Indoor fine particle (PM2.5) pollution exposure due to secondhand smoke in selected public places of Sri Lanka†

  1. Sumal Nandasena MBBS, MSc, MD1,*,
  2. Ananda R. Wickremasinghe MBBS, PhD2,
  3. Kiyoung Lee ScD3,
  4. Nalini Sathiakumar MD, DrPH4

Article first published online: 2 APR 2012

DOI: 10.1002/ajim.22040

Issue

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

American Journal of Industrial Medicine

Special Issue: Research Contributions from the United States International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health Program: Part 1

Volume 55, Issue 12, pages 1129–1136, December 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Nandasena, S., Wickremasinghe, A. R., Lee, K. and Sathiakumar, N. (2012), Indoor fine particle (PM2.5) pollution exposure due to secondhand smoke in selected public places of Sri Lanka. Am. J. Ind. Med., 55: 1129–1136. doi: 10.1002/ajim.22040

Author Information

  1. 1

    Evaluation and Research Unit, National Institute of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Kalutara, Sri Lanka

  2. 2

    Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

  3. 3

    Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea

  4. 4

    Department of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama

*Evaluation and Research Unit, National Institute of Health Sciences, PO Box 28, Kalutara, Sri Lanka.

  1. †

    Disclosure Statement: The authors report no conflicts of interests.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 7 NOV 2012
  2. Article first published online: 2 APR 2012
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 7 MAR 2012

Funded by

  • The National Institutes of Health-Fogarty International Center (NIH-FIC). Grant Number: 5 D43 TW05750

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Keywords:

  • tobacco;
  • smoking;
  • Sri Lanka;
  • public;
  • secondhand smoke

Abstract

Background

Secondhand smoke accounts for a considerable proportion of deaths due to tobacco smoke. Although the existing laws ban indoor smoking in public places in Sri Lanka, the level of compliance is unknown.

Methods

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in 20 public places in Colombo, Sri Lanka were measured by a PM monitor (Model AM510—SIDEPAK Personal Aerosol Monitor). Different types of businesses (restaurants, bars, cafés, and entertainment venues) were selected by purposive sampling. Only the places where smoking was permitted were considered.

Results

The average indoor PM2.5 ranged from 33 to 299 µg/m3. The average outdoor PM2.5 ranged from 18 to 83 µg/m3. The indoor to outdoor PM2.5 ratio ranged from 1.05 to 14.93. In all venues, indoor PM2.5 levels were higher than the Sri Lankan ambient PM2.5 standard of 50 µg/m3. All indoor locations had higher PM2.5 levels as compared to their immediate outdoor surroundings.

Conclusion

The study highlights the importance of improving ventilation and enforcing laws to stop smoking in public places. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:1129–1136, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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