摘要：Objectives. This study sought to evaluate the short-term impact of national smoke-free workplace legislation on employee exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work and on employee smoking habits. Methods. We performed 2 cross-sectional studies in 9 medium-sized and large Finnish workplaces, before and after implementation of national smoke-free workplace legislation. We assessed tobacco smoke exposure via questionnaire and indoor air nicotine measurements. Results. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke declined considerably after the legislation was implemented. Tobacco consumption among smokers diminished. Nicotine concentrations fell significantly. Conclusions. Legislation was more efficient than voluntary workplace-specific smoking restrictions in reducing passive smoking and cigarette consumption. (Am J Public Health. 2001;91:1416–1418) Since the 1980s, evidence has accumulated on the effects of passive smoking on lung cancer, coronary heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. 1 – 7 In March 1995, enforcement of a reformed Tobacco Control Act 8 expanded the voluntary workplace smoking restrictions that existed in some Finnish firms. The act prohibited smoking on all joint and public premises of workplaces. The employer had 2 options to implement the act: impose a total ban on smoking or allow smoking in designated smoking rooms or areas with separate ventilation systems and lower air pressure than nonsmoking spaces. To assess the impact of the new legislation, we carried out repeated studies with questionnaires and indoor air nicotine measurements before and after the reformed act came into effect. The main objective was to assess the short-term impact of the law on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure at work and on smoking habits among employees.
