Results announced of secondhand smoke exposure in St. Louis bars and restaurants

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHAT: Press conference to announce results of the first study to monitor airborne nicotine in St. Louis area bars and restaurants. Airborne nicotine is a reliable marker of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure because cigarette smoke is the only source of nicotine in the air.

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Center for Advanced Medicine Lobby, 4921 Parkview Place

BACKGROUND: To date, there have been no studies assessing SHS exposure in St. Louis area bars and restaurants. The Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine teamed with the Center for Tobacco Policy Research at Washington University to determine:
• The level of SHS exposure using airborne nicotine monitors
• Employees’ exposure to SHS using hair nicotine levels
• Employees’ health issues related to SHS exposure
• Employees’ knowledge and attitudes regarding smoke-free policy
• Effectiveness of ventilation systems in reducing SHS

WHO:
• Tim Eberlein, MD, director of the Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine
• Sarah Moreland-Russell, research manager of the Center for Tobacco Policy Research at Washington University
• John Postel, marketing and entertainment manager of The Highlands Restaurant and Brewery in Kirkwood, Mo.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Judy Martin
Washington University School of Medicine
(314) 286-0105
(314) 750-4213 (cell)

Jason Merrill
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
(314) 286-0302
(314) 602-8124 (cell)