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To the Editor: In their study of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation, Dr Menzies and colleagues¹ explored the effect of smoke-free legislation on bar workers' health in Dundee and Perth, Scotland. Their findings of improvements across a range of health indices in bar workers now in smoke-free working environments are consistent with expectations and with earlier work by Eisner et al.²

However, it is important to note that the effects of seasonal variation were not controlled for. The study examined self-reported respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function, and markers of inflammation at 3 points between February 2006 and June 2006. The city of Dundee is located at a latitude of 56.5° N and experiences marked changes in weather conditions in these months (average February maximum temperature is 44°F compared to 62°F in June).³ Roponen et al⁴ measured large seasonal differences in self-reported respiratory symptoms in a cohort of healthy . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Sean Semple, PhD
sean.semple@abdn.ac.uk
Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen, Scotland

Brian G. Miller, PhD; Fintan Hurley, MA
Institute of Occupational Medicine
Edinburgh, Scotland

Mark Petticrew, PhD
MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit
University of Glasgow
Glasgow, Scotland

Jon G. Ayres, MD
Department of Environmental & Occupational Medicine
University of Aberdeen

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