WINNIPEG — The Manitoba Medical Association says second-hand smoke not only kills - it makes restaurant and bar workers more susceptible to colds and other annoying symptoms.

The association released a study Friday of short-term effects on 45 workers at both smoking and non-smoking bars and restaurants in Winnipeg and Brandon.

Dr. Mark Taylor said there are plenty of studies proving the long-term effects. But he said he hoped this one on the short-term impact would help spur city and provincial officials to implement an all-out ban on smoking in public places.

"There's not a large amount of data on the short-term respiratory consequences," Taylor said.

Kristina Hunter of the University of Manitoba's environmental health sciences faculty worked on the report.

She said hospitality workers are among the few exposed to such a hazardous work environment without any regulations regarding levels of exposure to a proven carcinogen.

The demographics of the hospitality industry also pose a concern, she said.

"It tends to employ a lot of young people, a lot of females, people that are nearing their reproductive age, so they are at a very vulnerable time in their lives."

One Ottawa woman dying of cancer has already won workers' compensation benefits for her exposure to second-hand smoke. Heather Crowe, 57, has become an advocate for tougher smoking bans after 40 years as a waitress.

Non-smoking bar and restaurant workers also are many times more likely to have sore throats, coughs, teary eyes and colds if they work in places where smoking is allowed, the Manitoba study found.

Both the city of Winnipeg and the province are considering an all-out ban, and an all-party committee of the Manitoba legislature is going to review the issue later this year.

Coun. Mark Lubosch said he believes a bare majority of Winnipeg city councillors are ready to go for an all-out ban, but he wishes provincial politicians would have a little more courage.

"I don't know how much more evidence we need, whether it's the 250 people that are reportedly dying every year from second-hand smoke in this province or whether it's the $250 million that we're spending on additional health-care costs to treat people with preventable smoking-related illnesses," he said.

Brandon now has the toughest anti-smoking bylaw in the province, but the study was conducted both before and after its all-out ban was implemented.

The study was released at an Applebee's restaurant in Winnipeg. Janet Harder, who runs the chain's outlets in Alberta and Manitoba, said it's time for provinces to face facts and do the right thing.

A smoker herself, Harder said business at Applebee's fell off initially when they went smoke-free but they attracted new customers and their staff are happier and more productive.

Manitoba isn't the only province looking a breaking new ground with an all-out ban on smoking in public places.

Ontario Health Minister Tony Clement has also said his province will consider a provincewide ban as part of its review of Ontario's anti-smoking strategy.

The Ontario Medical Association is also applying pressure for an all-out ban, saying 2,600 people a year die in the province as a result of second-hand smoke.

Taylor admitted their sample in the Manitoba study was small and they hope to expand it in the future. They had trouble finding non-smoking employees working where smoking was allowed who would participate.

"We have no proof, but our suspicion is they're being discouraged from participating by their employers," he said.