Study finds partial hotel smoking bans ineffective

San Diego – Staying in a non-smoking room at a hotel with a partial smoking ban does not prevent exposure to tobacco smoke and carcinogens, according to a study from San Diego State University.

Researchers used a sample of 40 hotels (10 with complete smoking bans and 30 with partial bans) to assess exposure to tobacco smoke pollutants among non-smoking hotel guests. Exposure was higher among guests who stayed in non-smoking rooms at hotels with partial bans than among guests at hotels that did not allow smoking at all, the study abstract states.

Concluding that partial bans provide inadequate protection, researchers suggested non-smokers stay at hotels with complete bans.

The article was published online May 13 in the journal Tobacco Control.