Secondhand Smoke Study Unveiled
The Bullitt County Health Department unveiled a study showing how unhealthy secondhand smoke is in Bullitt's businesses. Restaurants and other businesses in Bullitt county are still allowed to smoke indoors.
According to the study done by the University of Kentucky's College of Nursing, the amount of particulate matter in the air was almost 43 times higher in 11 Bullitt venues compared to those in Louisville after it implemented a smoking ban. The level of particulate matter was also higher in Bullit's bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues than matter found in Louisville venues before the ban was in place.
The level of particulate air in Bullitt's venues was almost 11 times higher than the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's standard for outdoor air.
The study was done with intentions to spark discussion on banning smoking in Bullitt's restaurants and bars. Local restaurants and bar employees are mixed on what action, if any, the county should take.
“We are not really looking at determining people's rights but are looking more toward protecting the public," says Swannie Jett, Bullitt public health director.
Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 substances that can cause cancer, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Posted by Shane Alan Andersen
