[Measurement of indoor smoke pollution in public places in Hungary]
Dávid László Tárnoki1, Adám Domonkos Tárnoki, Andrew Hyland
1Semmelweis Egyetem, Altalános Orvostudományi Kar, Radiológiai és Onkoterápiás Klinika, Budapest. tarnoki4@gmail.com
Unlabelled:
To compare the levels of indoor air pollution found in a sample of smoking and non-smoking public locations in Hungary.
Methods:
Ambient air of 6 pubs, 5 restaurants, 11 cafes, and 20 other locations in Budapest and Zalakaros, Hungary, between January and August 2008, was studied, and concentration of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5) was assessed with TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor.
Results:
In 26 places where smoking was observed, the average PM 2.5 level was 102.3 microg/m3 [range: 3-487 microg/m3]; compared to 5.1 microg/m 3 [range: 0-28 microg/m3] in the 16 places where smoking was observed.
Conclusions:
Levels of indoor fine particle air pollution measured in smoking public locations in Hungary were 18 times higher than the levels in non-smoking places and exceeded the harmful levels declared by the World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency.
