Impact of the 28/2005 Spanish smoking law on second-hand smoke exposure in Barcelona

Objective: To assess the impact of the 28/2005 Spanish smoking law on exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in Barcelona. Methods: We performed a pre-post evaluation study. Two cross-sectional surveys were compared. Data were obtained from the Barcelona Health Surveys of 2000 and 2006. The prevalence of SHS exposure among non-smoking adults was analyzed by setting (home, workplace and leisure time) and sociodemographic variables. Results: SHS exposure in non-smokers significantly decreased between 2000 and 2006 (p < 0.01). Odds ratios adjusted by sex, age and social class were 0.7(95% CI: 0.6-0.8) for home and 0.2(95% CI: 0.2-0.3) for workplace exposure in 2006 compared with 2000. In both settings, the decrease in exposure was greater in the higher social classes. After the implementation of the law, almost 50% of the population remained exposed to SHS during leisure time, younger people being the most exposed (83.5%). Conclusion: After the implementation of the law, the prevalence of SHS exposure in non-smokers in Barcelona decreased significantly in workplaces and in the home. Nevertheless, nearly half of the population remained exposed to SHS during leisure time. (C) 2011 SESPAS. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.