Press Event: Greece to Announce a Smoke Free Country with the help of HSPH Scientists

Monday, August 30, 2010, Kresge G3
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM EST
Session on Public Health Practice

Greece to Go Smoke Free September 1, 2010 with Help of Harvard School of Public Health Scientists

The session is on the practice of public health and will bring together HSPH scientists from the School, Greece and our Cyprus International Institute for the Environment and Public Health to present data on research we have conducted in the last year on secondhand smoke and health in the region and how it has been translated into policies to reduce the disease burden caused by secondhand smoke.  Our scientists measured small respirable particles (RSPs) associated with exposure to secondhand smoke in hospitality sites (bars and restaurants) in Greece and Cyprus using a device called the SidePak and found extremely high levels of toxins. Greece and Cyprus have some of the highest smoking rates in the world.  Cyprus went smoke free January 1, 2010.

 The findings of these studies will be presented in Kresge G3 and in Greece and Cyprus via a video-conference.  Simultaneously, the scientists will be participating in press briefings in Athens and Cyprus that students will observe.  The science is relevant to public health since the Cypriot data shows a 90% reduction in RSP exposure since the country went smoke free on January 1, 2010 and reports of the high exposure in Greece venues (220 RSPs). Greece is scheduled to go smoke free on September 1, 2010 and the Cyprus data provides needed scientific evidence for the new law.  HSPH will conduct follow-up research after the new law and conduct research on improvement in health among Greek hospitality workers.

The Minister of Health of Greece will be in attendance and speak from Athens.  Reporters from Cyprus and Greece will ask question of the scientists from their respective venues (Press Club in Cyprus and Health Information Office from the Athens Ministry of Health) and this will be simultaneously aired in Kresge G3.  Students will be allowed to ask questions of the scientists after the press ask their questions.

This project has been funded by the Behrakis Foundation.

Download: Conference Flyer

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• Indoor Air Pollution of Hospitality Venues in Cyprus Pre- and Post- the Introduction of a Comprehensive Smoking Ban
  
• Smoking in Greece

• Hellenic Air Monitoring Study, Wave 1: May 2010
• Report on Indoor Air Pollution of Hospitality Venues Pre- and Post- the Introduction of a Comprehensive Smoking Ban in Cyprus

• Indoor Air Quality improved by 90% Due to Smoking Ban