Changes in passive smoking in the workplace from three waves of the European community respiratory health survey

Background. There are few data on changes in passive smoking at work over recent years, and on the effectiveness of smoking bans introduced by different European countries. Aims. To study changes and determinants of passive smoking at work in Europe, taking into account different anti-smoking legislation at national levels. Methods. The present study was performed in occupationally active individuals from random population samples of ECRHS I in 1990-95 in 27 centers from 13 countries. Responders were invited to follow-up interviews in 1998-2003 (ECRHS II) and in 2010-14 (ECRHS III). At each wave passive smoking at work was assessed by the question “Do people smoke regularly in the room where you work?” Results. Passive smoking at work, although affecting 31.9% (3590/11265) of employed in 1990-95, nearly disappeared in the subsequent two decades, dropping to 17.5% (1195/6818) in 1998-2003 and to 2.5% (111/4488) in 2010-14. Similarly when considering only subjects participating in all three surveys, passive smoking at work dropped from 27.9% (1127/4042) to 16.8% (673/4006) and further to 2.2% (80/3697). Significant differences were found across countries: In ECRHS III, passive smoking at work was virtually absent in Sweden (0.4%) and still a problem in Switzerland (6.8%) and Spain (5.4%). Of note, smoking was banned in public places in Sweden as early as 1993/94, but more than 10 years later in the other two countries. Passive smoking at work was significantly higher among men, current smokers and less educated people. Conclusions. Smoking bans and anti-smoking campaigns in the workplace seem to have been effective in reducing passive smoking at the workplace in Europe.