The Staten Island Advance had an interesting article about casinos that allow smoking. Currently, 88% of commercial casinos nationally allow smoking. Researchers found that patrons and workers in casinos that allow smoking are subject to carcinogenic chemicals and air particulate pollution levels up to ten times higher then smokefree casinos. They found that ventilation and air cleaning systems did not measurably affect indoor smoke levels.
A new study suggests that less than two hours of exposure to secondhand smoke in a casino puts patrons and workers at acute risk of developing heart disease, pulmonary disease and cancer. The only effective control for secondhand smoke is reducing the number of smokers.
High intensity smoking, more than twenty cigarettes per day, has declined markedly across the nation. That fact, however, may not be the case inside casinos where clouds of cigarette fumes remain part of the iconic scene. Hopefully that will change in time, until then don't hold your breath...unless you're in a casino.
