1. Quantifying Littered Cigarette Butts to Measure Effectiveness of Smoking Bans to Building Perimeters.
- Author
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Seitz, ChristopherM., Strack, RobertW., Orsini, MuhsinMichael, Rosario, Carrie, Haugh, Christie, Rice, Rebecca, Wyrick, DavidL., and Wagner, Lorelei
- Subjects
UNIVERSITIES & colleges ,FOOD service ,RESEARCH methodology ,MEDICAL protocols ,SCIENTIFIC observation ,WASTE management ,SCHOOL administration ,SIGNS & symbols ,SMOKING cessation ,RESIDENTIAL care - Abstract
Objective: The authors estimated the number of violations of a university policy that prohibited smoking within 25 ft of all campus buildings. Participants: The project was conducted by 13 student researchers from the university and a member of the local public health department. Methods: Students quantified cigarette butts that were littered in a 30-day period inside the prohibited smoking area of 7 campus buildings (large residential hall, small residential hall, administrative building, 2 academic buildings, campus cafeteria, and student union). Results: Investigators found a total of 7,861 cigarette butts (large residential hall: 1,198; small residential hall: 344; administrative building: 107; 2 academic buildings: 1,123 and 806; campus cafeteria: 2,651; and student union: 1,632). Conclusions: Findings suggest that there is low compliance with the university's smoking policy. The described project may be repeated by students at other universities as a method to advocate for policy change. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2012
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