A study by the UW Comprehensive Cancer Center has found that nonsmoking bartenders in Madison who work in establishments where smoking is allowed are much more likely to experience five upper respiratory symptoms.
The study was undertaken in May and June, before the city’s smoking ban went into effect. A follow-up study is being conducted to find out possible effects of the ban.
“It was a random sample of bartenders,” said Dr. Patrick Remington, professor of public health at the University of Wisconsin Medical School and associate director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. About 700 bartenders responded to the survey.