May 23, 2011 - After a nationwide workplace smoking ban was introduced in Ireland in March 2004, researchers in Dublin studied hospital records and found that the amount of emergency room admissions due to respiratory illness, cardiopulmonary disease, acute coronary syndrome, and asthma were significantly reduced after the ban went into effect. The most pronounced reduction in admissions was in the 20-29 year old age group. The decrease in emergency room admissions may indicate that workplace smoking bans have a marked impact on the health of employees by reducing their exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. “This study further proves that the implementation of a workplace smoking ban improves general health and also reduces hospital burden by respiratory illness, one of the most common illnesses to present to the emergency services,” said Imran Sulaiman, MD, who led the study.

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