Air quality and presence of air ventilation systems inside waterpipe cafes in North Carolina.

ABSTRACT:

Background

After North Carolina (NC) fire inspectors detected unsafe carbon monoxide (CO) levels inside several waterpipe cafés, the state fire code was amended to include provisions regulating waterpipe cafés, adding a requirement for air ventilation. These regulations apply to new buildings constructed after 1 January 2016, but can be enforced for older buildings where there exists a distinct hazard to life. We measured air quality at a sample of waterpipe cafés before and after the starting date of this regulation and collected information on presence of air ventilation.

Methods

Air quality (CO, fine particulate matter (PM_2.5)) monitoring was conducted inside and outside of six waterpipe cafés in NC in September of 2015 (time 1) and September of 2016 (time 2).

SUBMITTER: Seidenberg AB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6590895 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature