Second-hand smoke even a danger on open-air patios, study says

CTVNews.ca Staff Published Friday, August 2, 2013 9:33PM EDT Last Updated Friday, August 2, 2013 11:09PM EDT

Air quality scientists and anti-smoking advocates are renewing calls to ban smoking on all patios in Canada after newly released research showed that patrons lounging near smokers can be exposed to high levels of second-hand smoke, even while sitting outdoors.

The study, which focused on restaurant patios in Montreal, found that second-hand smoke inhaled by patrons and servers is akin to sitting next to a forest fire.

What we registered were concentrations that would be similar to someone experiencing a forest fire, like the fires Kelowna (B.C.) had a few years ago, said Ryan Kennedy, an air quality scientist who measures smoke pollution on patios.

While the research found that the large patio umbrellas trap smoke, it also showed that those sitting on open-air patios -- without any umbrella, awning or walls -- are still feeling the effects of second-hand smoke.

Concentrations of pollution on a smoky patio can be high -- can be very high -- and its completely possible to regulate it, Kennedy said.

Provinces like Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Alberta ban smoking on patios, and other cities such as Ottawa, Saskatoon and Vancouver have adopted the same rules.

In Winnipeg, smoking is still allowed as long as there are no walls or awnings trapping the smoke.

Holly Kolevris, a manager of Saffrons Restaurant in Winnipeg, said lawmakers should not be getting further involved in an owners business affairs.

Theyre too controlling, she said. They need to let us operate the way we operate.

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Second-hand smoke even a danger on open-air patios, study says