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Study Shows Bars & Restaurants Have Hazardous Indoor Air Pollution Save Email Print
Posted: 3:40 PM Oct 6, 2008
 Last Updated: 3:40 PM Oct 6, 2008
 Email Address: news@weau.com
6 comments
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A health department's study of bars and restaurants shows that many have what it calls hazardous indoor air pollution.

The Eau Claire City County Health Department says a UW-Madison Cancer Center tested almost 60 establishments in Eau Claire, La Crosse, Burnett, Polk, Pierce, Chippewa, Clark and Rusk counties.

They used a personal aerosol monitor and recorded how many people were smoking.
The department says only the smoke free places had what it calls good air quality.

The tests revealed levels of small particulate pollution.
One bar in Chippewa County was found to have 6 times the hazardous level.

The businesses in the study were not identified.
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Posted by: Ryan Location: Eau Claire on Oct 7, 2008 at 05:15 PM
The problem is that most places in town do not have the ability to set up a designated smoking area, and the city did not cooperate very well by allowing the use of the sidewalks for "beer garden" use, as did Colorado which has had much sucess with the smoking ban. And for your information, Madsion taverns are still hurting because all the surrounding communities, just like Eau Claire, are smoking.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison, WI on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:05 AM
The smoking ban did hurt local businesses in the beginning, but now they are finding that a new crowd of people are coming out to experience the bars and restaurants they wouldn't go in before the ban because of the smoke. Most smokers do not mind going outside to smoke, especially when the bars and restaurants set up a designated area outside.
Posted by: a Location: Augusta on Oct 6, 2008 at 08:38 PM
Well at least the people of Eau Claire can certainly enjoy their smoke free air. If the ban goes state wide that is fine I will stay home and have a drink. Any one ever think that by punishing all of the taverens with a smoking ban that you are actually hurting local business? Some of these people have put their heart and soul in to their business, and just because it may be a tavern they should be punished because they allow people to smoke in it. My feeling is that it should be left up to the business owner to make the call to allow people to smoke or not. It should not be the governments decision. And for the people that do not like the smoke, if you don't like the smoke maybe go some where that does not allow smoking!!
Posted by: Mary Location: Chippewa on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:51 PM
That is scary! I agree with Diane that smoking bans need to be considered. I am glad that I do not frequent any establishments where smoking is allowed.
Posted by: Ryan Location: Eau Claire on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:09 PM
Yes, but the cities should wait until the State does go smoke free, otherwise you will just be hurting the local small business owners. This effect is most definitely being seen in Eau Claire. The sad part is most of the people for the smoking ban still don't patronage our local bars.
Posted by: Diane Location: New Auburn on Oct 6, 2008 at 04:39 PM
The news about the indoor air pollution in taverns where smoking is allowed underscores the need for the state of Wisconsin to make the ban statewide like our neighboring states.
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