Non-smoking guests are still exposed to tobacco smoke in hotels without complete smoking bans, despite staying in non-smoking rooms.
A new study, published in the journal Tobacco Control, examined the effects of tobacco smoke pollution on non-smoking guests.
The researchers used a sample of hotels from California, USA, 10 with complete smoking bans and 30 without complete bans. They analysed surfaces and the air for different pollutants found in tobacco smoke and took urine samples and a finger wipe from non-smoking guests to determine their exposure to the pollutants.
Non-smoking guests staying in hotels without complete smoking bans showed higher levels of nicotine in their urine and on their fingers than those in hotels with complete bans.
The researchers concluded that partial smoking bans do not protect non-smoking guests from exposure to tobacco smoke