Salt Lake airport one of 5 large U.S. airports to continue to allow smoking in designated rooms

Gann said she wasn't aware of the agency's visit to Salt Lake City to test the air sometime between Oct. 19 and Nov. 1, and the findings reported Tuesday are different from tests done by airport officials. She said pollution levels are checked and filters are changed at the airport on a daily basis.

"It's an emotional issue, and we're well aware of that," Gann said. "We are working to find the right line down the middle for the needs of smokers and nonsmokers alike. Right now, we believe that with the information we have, we are providing a safer environment for employees with the smoking lounges than without."

Although smoking was banned on all U.S. domestic and international commercial flights through a series of federal laws adopted from 1988 to 2000, no federal policy requires airports to be smoke-free. Such designation is up to individual state, local and airport authorities.

Smoke-free policies, the report states, are the only way to eliminate involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke for airport employees and travelers of all ages.

Contributing: Nkoyo Iyamba

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