CDC and University of Washington released the following tobacco-related article in the journal Tobacco Control.

What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Your Lungs:  An Assessment of Fine Particulate Matter in Casinos that Prohibit and Allow Smoking in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Despite progress in adoption of smoke-free policies, smoking in casinos is allowed in some U.S. states, including Nevada.  In 2020, for the first time, a resort-style casino in Las Vegas prohibited smoking voluntarily.

This is the first study to assess PM2.5 levels in a smoke-free casino in Las Vegas.  Despite robust evidence about the harms of secondhand smoke, tens of thousands of casino employees and tens of millions of tourists are exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke in Las Vegas casinos annually, with PM2.5 levels 5.4 times higher in gaming areas when compared with a smoke-free casino.

Nearly all casinos in Las Vegas continue to allow smoking indoors.  The only way to protect people from secondhand smoke exposure is to prohibit smoking in all indoor areas.

The article is available online at:  https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2023/02/15/tc-2022-057861

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