Esteve Fernández
Director of Epidemiology, Prevention and Cancer Control at the Catalan Institute of Oncology and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Tobacco Control at the Catalan Institute of Oncology
The measure to make terraces and other outdoor spaces smoke-free is necessary to protect health and promote public health. We have conducted several studies showing that in these outdoor areas where smokers congregate there is significant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. We have demonstrated this in studies in Barcelona and Madrid, where PM2.5 and ambient nicotine concentrations in terraces (usually in breach of current legislation and virtually closed) were similar to the concentrations we had inside bars and restaurants before the 2010 tobacco law.
In addition to protecting the health of customers and, importantly, workers, these measures have a very important public health and de-normalisation of smoking in society component. The risk of lung cancer or myocardial infarction among non-smokers who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke is 20-25% higher than in non-smokers who are not exposed to tobacco smoke.
Therefore, these measures should be extended to other public places currently not covered by the law, such as school environments and building entrances (smoke spreads indoors), outdoor bus and train shelters and bus stops. In addition, given the huge environmental impact of tobacco, especially the highly polluting cigarette butts, beaches and swimming pools, parks and gardens of any kind.