Environmental tobacco smoke and ventilation in 20 social venues in Perth, Western Australia

The indoor air quality and ventilation systems of 20 indoor public venues in the Perth Metropolitan area were investigated. This included 4 licensed restaurants, 2 licensed sporting clubs, 6 coffee shops (including a smoking café in a non-smoking shopping centre), 5 taverns, 2 night-clubs and a major hotel. Indicators of tobacco smoke and ventilation were monitored, the ventilation system was inspected and the number of people engaged in smoking and not smoking were counted. Averaged levels of nicotine varied between 1.91 and 22.4 μg·m-3 and were highest in taverns. Significantly higher levels of nicotine were found in the public areas compared to levels behind the bar in taverns and clubs. Particulate levels and levels of carbon monoxide were elevated. With the exception of the major international hotel, all venues were found to have significant deficiencies in the running and maintenance of their air conditioning systems