Air nicotine monitor to gauge what smokers leave behind

“The machine was introduced in April and the results of the effectiveness of the machine are being analysed. Once the results are out,based on them,we will place the machine in other offices too,” Delhi Health minister Kiran Walia said.

The government is hoping to track the amount of tobacco consumption by installing nicotine monitors to detect the presence of residue of the stimulant.  An ‘air nicotine metre’ was installed inside the premises of Delhi Secretariat.

“It was introduced as part of the ‘environment tobacco smoke study’ undertaken here,” she said.

Walia said the machine will help the designated officers to better implement smoking related rules in their departments.

“It was installed three months ago and the results are being evaluated by Johns Hopkins. If it is found to be good,we will place it in other offices too,” she said.

She informed that 43,940 public places were raided and 30,723 persons fined for smoking in public — 1,495 tobacco vendors were fined by the government and a sum of Rs 24,12,603 realised from the violators since the Central government enforced a ban on smoking in public places last November.  

An estimated 120 million smokers exist in India. The annual deaths from smoking are expected to rise to one million during 2010,Walia said.