Research Proposal for the Implementation of a

Smoke-Free Policy for Airports

Lo Mien Leong Luis
INTRODUCTION
Studies by various parties all conclude that even the best designed,
designated smoking rooms do not fully protect non-smokers from secondhand smoke as some leakage of second-hand smoke (SHS) is inevitable.
Studies also found that smoking rooms were not practical due to the
technical demands and costs associated with the building, operation and
maintenance of the rooms [1].
Most South East Asian Airports have laws that protect non-smokers.
However these laws are not enough as they do not comply with the
maximum standards set forth by the WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (FCTC) by providing for Designated Smoking Rooms
(DSRs). For example, designated smoking rooms (DSRs), lounges and
other indoor smoking areas still exist in major airports [2]. For Example,
Thailand and Singapore, being the tobacco control leaders in the region,
have not yet eliminated DSRs in their Airport(s) [1].
Global tobacco control has been strengthened in recent decades through
efforts to prevent tobacco consumption and (SHS) exposure among
smokers and non-smokers. Good examples of regions following this best
practice include Australia and certain States of the USA which actively
enforce smoke-free airports [3].
PURPOSE
The purpose of this proposal is to investigate the probable success of this
scheme and to analyse the feasibility and reception of this scheme in the
aviation community. It is also to highlight the need for remedial action to
remove the serious environmental hazards of SHS which may affect
airport workers, sensitive groups and an unsuspecting population of air
travellers [2]. Overall, the goal of the proposal of this policy is to try to
1

align Singapores airports towards a smoke-free environment commonly

found in other first world countries [3].

METHODOLOGY
The following methods will be used to accomplish the proposed tasks.

Collate general characteristics of passengers travelling through the

airport.
Conduct a survey to identify the perception of the passengers on an

Airport Smoke-Free Policy for the airport.

Conduct Smoke Free Trials in the airport for certain terminals and
measure the change in the amount of SHS in the adjacent areas of the
smoking rooms before and a the trial.

PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
The findings including the following data will be presented to the team
after a 6-month research and trial period on the 15th of May 2016.

Survey results on passengers perception on the implementation of an

Airport Smoke-Free Policy for the airport.

Challenges/ Obstacles for the implementation of this scheme for the

airport.
Results of the change in the amount of SHS recorded before and during

the trial period.

Projected cost savings for the airport with the implementation of this
Airport Smoke-Free Policy.

REFERENCES
[1] Sirichotiratana, Nithat, Perception of Tourists Regarding the SmokeFree Policy at Suvarnabhumi International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand,
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,
September 2013. [Online]. Available:
http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.tp.edu.sg/docview/1467988412/73909
6641CCC43C9PQ/1?accountid=47385 [Accessed: 1 Nov 2015]
[2] Nipapun Kungskulnit, Assessment of secondhand smoke in
international airports in Thailand, Tobacco Control, 17 March 2014.
[Online]. Available: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/24/6/532.full
[Accessed: 2 Nov 2015]
[3] Frances A Stillman, Andrea Soong, Cerise Kleb, Ashley Grant, Ana
Navas-Acien, A review of smoking policies in airports around the world,
Tobacco Control, 17 March 2014 [Online]. Available:

http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/24/6/528.full [Accessed: 2 Nov

2015]