MINNEAPOLIS, June 3, 2008—A study of the relative air pollution in bars in Moorhead and Fargo, just across the river in North Dakota, shows that Moorhead's air is a lot healthier.

In fact, the air in Fargo bars is on average 54 times more polluted than smoke-free Moorhead bars, according to the study.

The study looked at 10 randomly selected bars in Fargo, where smoking is permitted, and six bars in Moorhead.

Chelsey Matter, the Cass County tobacco cessation coordinator, revealed the results at a news conference.

The American Heart Association commissioned the study, which was released Monday. The Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., supervised it. 

Fargo voters will vote on two proposed smoking bans in a June 10 election.

One, called Measure 2, supported by Smoke-Free for Everyone, would prohibit smoking in public workplaces, including all bars, truck stops and rental halls.

The other, called Measure 3, also would prohibit smoking in public workplaces, but makes exceptions for truck stops and enclosed bars that do not admit underage customers.