New alert over smoke risk

Fresh evidence of the health risk from passive smoking is revealed today.

An Evening Standard investigation found that some drinkers in London pubs absorbed nicotine and other dangerous chemicals equivalent to smoking one cigarette every three hours.

Over the course of a year, the laboratory results from our sample mean the average non-smoking Londoner going out twice a week is smoking the equivalent of 100 cigarettes each year.

The tests were carried out in four typical London venues - a local pub, a cocktail bar, a gastropub and a cigar bar. Reporters provided urine samples before and after they visited the venues. The samples were then sent for laboratory analysis.

Experts warned the levels of nicotine encountered in two of our samples could lead to permanent damage to the arteries of non-smokers.

They claim the risk to non-smokers of going to pubs and restaurants where smoking is allowed is " significant". Ian Willmore of anti-smoking group Ash said of our results: "I think people will be very angry when they find out what they are exposed to on a night out. Over time this really builds up. But even after 30 minutes you are damaging your heart."

Professor Martin Jarvis of University College London, an expert on the effects of secondhand smoke, said: "We know that people whose partners smoke have a 25 per cent increase in the risk of heart disease. Being in a smoky pub exposes you to far more smoke than this.

"From our own studies of bar workers, we know there is almost certainly

a risk from spending large amounts of time in a smoky bar."

He believes heart and lung disease are the key complaints nonsmokers risk in smoky environments.

The British Heart Foundation, which recently received complaints over its shocking advertisements showing artery damage in smokers, also claimed the results show that non-smokers visiting pubs and clubs in the capital are at risk of developing heart disease.

Cathy Ross, a cardiac nurse at the foundation, said: "There is clear evidence passive smoking increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Non-smokers living with smokers have a 30 per cent increased risk.

"A small study recently added weight to this and generated suggestions that non-smokers at risk of coronary heart disease should avoid all indoor environments that allow smoking.

"We are uncertain if there is a level of secondhand smoke below which it is safe. But until we have definite information, we should presume that exposure to secondhand smoke may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease."

Our reporters stayed in the venues for two and a half hours, then waited an hour before giving their samples, to allow the nicotine to enter the bloodstream.

The samples were tested for nicotine breakdown products, including cotinine, a clear indicator of nicotine exposure.