Indoor air pollution from second-hand smoke is now 91 per cent lower here than in pubs abroad, a new study has found.
The study took air samples from 41 pubs here and compared them with 87 "Irish pubs" in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia, where smoking was allowed.
It found that the Irish pubs in Northern Ireland and Britain were about 13 times more polluted than those in Galway, Dublin, Cork and Ennis.
The highest recorded air pollution levels were found in Lyon in France, where the sample was 37 times more polluted than the average level recorded in pubs in this State.
Very high levels of air pollution were also recorded in Irish pubs in New Jersey, Charleroi in Belgium, Athens, Beirut and Touron in Poland.
The study was conducted by researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and Roswell Park Cancer Institute, with the Office of Tobacco Control, the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society and the HSE western area.
Maurice Mulcahy, environmental health officer with the HSE western area, said the results were dramatic. "For example, in Galway the levels of the small particles measured in pubs averaged 18, whereas in Belfast these were 353, in Newry 400 and in London 296." The comparable Lyon figure was 1,051.
Prof Luke Clancy, director of the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society, challenged all Irish-themed pubs abroad to ban smoking.
"The success of the iconic Irish Pub brand is grounded in its authenticity," he said. "The challenge now to Irish pubs throughout the world on St Patrick's Day is to remain faithful to the reality of pubs in Ireland."
Prof Gregory Connolly from the Harvard School of Public Health said the study showed that smoking policies could "dramatically" improve indoor air quality.
"Although many nations pass laws on second-hand smoke, some do not implement them. Ireland has clearly shown that an indoor smoking ban can be accomplished through education, enforcement and political will," he said. "Simply segregating smokers and non-smokers in indoor spaces is of no use."
Dr Patrick Doorley of the Office of Tobacco Control said there was no reason why workers in Irish-themed pubs abroad should not expect the same protection from second-hand smoke as their Irish counterparts.
"The Irish law has already brought health benefits to the public as early research indicators are highlighting," he said. "Its successful implementation and enforcement is encouraging other countries who intend to follow suit."
While some US states had banned smoking in pubs and restaurants, Ireland was the first country to introduce the ban in 2004. It has since been followed by Malta, Norway, Sweden and Italy. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to soon follow suit.
