[Passive smoking and non-smoker protection--results of an inquiry by staff of the public health office of Frankfurt City in February 1991].

Abstract

Passive smoking is one of the most abundant sources of indoor air pollution with adverse health effects. Regulations for prevention of passive smoking in the working place are mandatory. In February 1991, the members of the health department of Frankfurt were asked by questionnaire about passive smoking at their working site, their complaints about health problems because of passive smoking and their proposals for regulations for the protection of non-smokers against passive smoke. This investigation was very well accepted, 77% returned their questionnaire. About 75% felt troubled by passive smoking, depending on their own smoking behaviour (100% of the ex-smokers and 53% of the smokers, who did not want to quit smoking). Non-smokers as well as smokers proposed total smoking prohibition for the canteen and the toilets. The conformity in the smoker's and the nonsmoker's proposals for the protection of non-smokers was surprising. After the good acceptance of the investigation we hope for the same acceptance for the planned regulations.