Measuring the Indoor Air Quality of Hookah Lounges

Audience:

Information in this presentation will benefit tobacco control program staff, public health advocates, researchers, and policy makers interested in indoor smoke-free air legislation.

Key Points:

Many states have implemented smoke-free workplace laws to protect employees and customers from exposure to secondhand smoke. However, exemptions in these laws have allowed indoor tobacco smoking in hookah lounges to proliferate in recent years.

Studies have measured particulate matter in the air in bars and restaurants that allow indoor smoking, finding employees and customers were exposed to hazardous levels of air pollution. No study to date has quantitatively assessed the indoor air quality of hookah lounges.

The indoor air quality of 10 hookah lounges in Oregon was measured from July-August 2010. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Air Quality Index, hookah lounges in Oregon had air quality measurements ranging from “unhealthy” to “hazardous”.

The air quality within hookah lounges poses a serious health hazard for patrons and employees. These findings are consistent with other studies on air quality in bars and restaurants that permit indoor smoking.

Educational Experience:

The audience will learn through a poster presentation that includes visual displays of graphs, tables, and text, as well as active dialogue with the presenter.

Benefits:

Historically, measuring indoor air quality in businesses permitting indoor smoking has been an integral component of campaigns to enact clean indoor air legislation. Participants can utilize this information to inform their tobacco control efforts centered on hookah and smoke-free indoor air policies.