Authors
Stanbury-M; Chester-D; Hanna-EA; Rosenman-KD
Source
Am J Ind Med 2008 Feb; 51(2):111-116
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Despite epidemiologic, experimental and observational data on the association of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and adverse health effects, bar and restaurant workers remain exposed to ETS in the majority of states and countries. METHODS: Three public health surveillance systems were used to identify and conduct a follow-up investigation of a reported acute asthma death of a young waitress in a bar. RESULTS: The waitress collapsed at the bar where she worked and was declared dead shortly thereafter. Evaluation of the circumstances of her death and her medical history concluded that her death was from acute asthma due to environmental tobacco smoke at work. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported acute asthma death associated with work-related ETS. Recent studies of asthma among bar and restaurant workers before and after smoking bans support this association. This death dramatizes the need to enact legal protections for workers in the hospitality industry from secondhand smoke.
Keywords
Protective-measures; Smoking; Worker-health; Work-environment; Bronchial-asthma; Pulmonary-disorders; Tobacco-smoke; Surveillance-programs
Contact
Kenneth D. Rosenman, Department of Medicine, Michigan State University, 117 W. Fee Hall, E. Lansing, MI 48824-1315
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
rosenman@msu.edu
Funding Type
Cooperative Agreement
Identifying No.
Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008466; Cooperative-Agreement-Number-U60-OH-008329
Source Name
American Journal of Industrial Medicine
Performing Organization
Michigan State University