겨울철 서울시 일부 실내스포츠시설에서 금연정책 실시 전후 PM_2.5 농도 비교

Comparison of PM_2.5 Concentrations before and after Smoke-free Policy in Some Indoor Sports Facilities in Seoul

Objectives: This study examined the impact of a smoke-free policy on indoor air quality at indoor recreation facilities by assessing PM_2.5 concentrations before and after the implementation of the new policy. Methods: Using real-time monitors, PM_2.5 concentrations were measured in 50 billiard rooms and 50 golf simulator rooms in Seoul, Korea. The characteristics of the indoor recreation facilities, smoking status, and atmospheric conditions were recorded at the same time.After the enforcement of a smoke-free policy, PM_2.5 concentrations, installation of smoking room, and smoking status were examined when the facilities were revisited. Results: Almost a half of the billiard rooms and over 80% of golf simulator rooms were located underground. Seventy percent of the billiard rooms and one hundred percent of the golf simulator rooms were equipped with a local exhaust ventilation system. After the implementation of the smoke-free policy, 46% of the billiard rooms and 20% of the golf simulator rooms newly installed a smoking room. In the billiard rooms with a newlyinstalled smoking room, the PM_2.5 concentrations decreased from 97.9 to 45.6 µg/m³ after the implementation of the smoke-free policy. The same change of 29.0 to 26.3 µg/m³ was not statistically significant in golf simulator rooms. Indoor PM_2.5 concentrations were correlated with outdoor PM_2.5 concentrations, number of smokers, and number of people in the room. Conclusions: The smoke-free policy forindoor recreationfacilities was not effective atmaking the indoor spaces free fromsecondhand smoke. Although a few billiard rooms installed a smoking room, indoor PM_2.5 concentrations were still higher than those of outdoor PM_2.5 or atmospheric PM_2.5. Stricter enforcement of the smoke-free policy should be achieved to prevent secondhand smoke exposure.