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Background: Carbon monoxide (CO) is one of the main pollutants in the air. Cigarette and stove smoke are the main sources. Exhaled carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and CO measurements can be used to determine the degree of exposure to active and/or passive cigarette smoke. Coffeehouses are workplaces where heavily cigarette smoking is observed. We aimed to study the degree of air pollution caused by cigarette smoking in coffeehouses.
Methods: Exhaled CO and COHb were measured in three groups: Coffeehouse customers (n=23, group I); smokers who don’t go to the coffeehouses (n=25, group II); and nonsmokers who don’t go to the coffeehouses (n=18, grup III).
Results: Mean age and usage of coal stove were not statistically different among the groups. The length of cigarette smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked daily weren’t statistically different between group I and II. Among the groups of I, II, III exhaled CO measurements were 21.4±9.3 ppm, 13.0±4.1 ppm, 2.4+0.8 ppm and COHb measurements were 3.5+1.5, 2.1 ±0.6, 0.4±0.1, respectively. Exhaled CO (p = 0.000) and COHb levels (p=0.000) were statistically different among the groups.
Conclusion: Exhaled CO levels of coffeehouse customers are significantly high. Being present in a coffeehouse is important for both active and passive tobacco smoke exposure. Improving the aeration can be considered as a first step, but improving people's consciousness and prohibiting tobacco use in the coffeehouses should be the main goal.