Date: 20/11/09
Venue: Shillong Press Club

Voluntary Health Association of India (VHAI) in collaboration with Voluntary Health Association of Meghalaya (VHAM) successfully released the Air Quality Monitoring Study in Bars and Restaurants of Shillong City at Shillong Press Club, Meghalaya. The study was released in a press conference amidst presence of over 25 - 30 journalists, both from the print and electronic media.

All the mainstream publications of Meghalaya including The Times of India, The Telegraph, The Sentinel, Meghalaya Times, The Shillong Times, PTI, UNI, and ANI were present at the event.

Apart from the print media, the prominent channels of Meghalaya also covered the event which includes Doordarshan, NE TV, Batesi TV, PCN TV.

Ms. Eudora Warjri, Executive Secretary, VHAM started the press conference by extending warm welcome note to the entire media representatives. She introduced on the AQM study by telling that it was conducted to measure particulate air pollution from secondhand smoke in different indoor hospitality locations, including bars and restaurants mostly during their peak business hours in July, 2009.

Binoy Mathew, VHAI given a detailed presentation on Health hazards of second hand smoke and Air Quality Monitoring Study. It was informed to the media that the AQM study was relatively a new concept and it was conducted for the first time in India in 12 states around 16 cities after the implementation of the Smoke Free Laws.

Further it was explained about the Air Quality monitoring study, which was conducted in 16 cities of 12 states. Shillong was one of 16 cities where the study was conducted with the help of TSI Side Pak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor. It was described that how the study was conducted, how sample was collected from various sites. While stating on the results of the study it was informed that out of the 10 hospitality sites visited in Shillong, smoking was observed in 5 places and not observed in 3 places. The level of fine particle air pollution (PM2.5) in the places with observed smoking is almost 20 times higher than the World Health Organization target air quality guideline for PM2.5. Smoke-free places had significantly lower pollution levels than places where smoking was observed.

It was further explained that PM2.5 is particulate matter in the air smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter. The particles of this size are released in significant amounts from burning cigarettes which are easily inhaled deep into the lungs and can cause a variety of adverse health effects including cardiovascular and respiratory disease and even death in some cases. Also it was informed to the media that the findings of the AQM study will be shared with the Ministry Officials and the Principal Secretary, Health Department and the Nodal Officer for tobacco Control so that the smoke free laws are implemented more effectively.

There was one – on – one interaction also with the media on the whole AQM study.

The media representatives were given a media tool kit containing press release, National and State AQM report, Summary report, Fact sheets on Health Hazards of Second Hand Smoke. A handy smart diary was also given to the journalist.

The media appreciated the initiative taken by VHAI and suggested to conduct the AQM Study in other parts of Meghalaya as well.

The press conference was concluded with a vote of thanks with a request to media and administration representative work together to make Meghalaya a smoke free place