Small particles are big problem for Beijing’s restaurants and bars

A study conducted by an environmental group has found that second-hand smoke is the single biggest source of indoor air pollution in certain public buildings in Beijing, according to a China Daily story relayed by Tobacco China Online.

The Daerwen Nature Quest Agency is said to have surveyed 43 restaurants, bars and Internet cafés in Beijing during the past six months and to have found that the concentration of small particles in the air was significantly higher than the World Health Organization’s maximum recommended levels.

Small particles from tobacco smoke made up 90 per cent of the pollutants measured during the survey, said Wang Qiuxia, the group’s project manager.

Li Qiang, a researcher with the National Office of Tobacco Control, said the airborne fine particles were very harmful to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.