Secondhand
smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), contains numerous human carcinogens for which there is no safe level of exposure. It is estimated that more than 26 million nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand
smoke in homes, vehicles, workplaces, and public places.
In 2006,
the U.S. Surgeon General published a comprehensive report entitled, “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure
to Tobacco Smoke,” which stated that:
· Each year, about 3,000 nonsmoking adults die of lung cancer
as a result of breathing secondhand smoke
· ETS causes an estimated 35,000 deaths from heart disease in
people who are not current smokers
· ETS can cause coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and reduced
lung function in nonsmokers
· Exposure to secondhand smoke causes an estimated 150,000 to
300,000 lower respiratory tract infections (i.e., pneumonia and bronchitis) each year in U.S. infants and children younger
than 18 months of age. These infections result in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations
annually
· Secondhand smoke increases the number and severity of asthma
attacks in about 200,000 to 1 million asthmatic children
Implementing
policies that establish smoke=free environments is the most effective approach to prevent exposure and harm from ETS.
Presently
in the U.S., more than 2,344 municipalities have passed smoke-free legislation and 19 states (California, Colorado, Connecticut,
Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island,
South Dakota, Vermont, Utah, and Washington), the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have either implemented or enacted
statewide smoking bans that prohibit smoking in workplaces and/or restaurants and/or bars.
Together
we can reduce secondhand smoke exposure by supporting clean indoor air laws.
Many of
the most important cancer decisions are made not just in the doctor’s office, but also in state legislatures, in Congress,
and in the White House. Policymakers and government officials make decisions
every day about health issues that affect people’s lives.
Smoke-free
laws and tobacco tax increases are key tools in the fight to reduce smoking rates and protect citizens from secondhand smoke.
Based
on statistics from the American Cancer Society, it’s estimated that another 35,090 people will get cancer in 2007. This is how many people you have put at risk by not approving (put the bill name and
number here.) So, my question is, how do you sleep at night knowing this? How do you look into the eyes of your children and know that your decision as a policymaker
has put them at risk for cancer and death?
Bill (name
it here) would protect bartenders, chefs, kitchen workers, musicians, and wait staff a safe workplace and from the dangers
of secondhand smoke.
Secondhand Smoke Kills
Bartenders working an 8-hour shift inhale the equivalent of 1/2 pack of cigarettes.
They face a 50% greater risk of dying of lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses than other workers.
(New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2002.)
Being a waitress is the most hazardous occupation for women. Compared
to other female workers, waitresses are almost 4 times more likely to die from lung cancer. (Siegel, M. Smoking and Restaurants: A Guide
for Policy Makers. University of California, Berkeley-University of California, San Francisco: American Heart Association
California Affiliate, Alameda County Health Care Services agency, Tobacco Control Program, September 1992 and Siegel, M. Involuntary
smoking in the restaurant workplace; A review of employee exposure and health effects. Journal of the American Medical Association,
270: 490-493, 1993.)
Secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death, killing 53,000 non-smokers in the U.S. each year. (Glantz,
S.A. & Parmley, W., "Passive Smoking and Heart Disease: Epidemiology, Physiology, and Biochemistry," Circulation, 1991;
83(1); 1-12; and, Taylor, A., Johnson, D. & Kazemi, H., "Environmental Tobacco Smoke and Cardiovascular Disease," Circulation,
1992; 86: 699-702.)
Secondhand smoke causes more cancer deaths than asbestos, arsenic, radiation, pesticides, benzene, radionuclides, vinyl
chloride, hazardous waste sites, contaminated sludge, mining waste, and chemicals found in drinking water combined. (New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2002.)
Secondhand smoke is a Class A (Human) carcinogen. Other Class A carcinogens
include arsenic, benzene and vinyl chloride. There is no safe level of exposure
to Class A carcinogens. (National Cancer Institute "Health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: the report of the California Environmental
Protection Agency". Smoking and Tobacco Control Monograph 10.)
Just 30 minutes of exposure
to secondhand smoke changes blood chemistry and increases
the risk of heart disease in non-smokers. (Otsuka, R., et al. "Acute Effects of Passive Smoking on
the Coronary Circulation in Health Young Adults,: Journal of American Medical Association, 286: 436-441, 2001).
The concentration of carcinogens is higher in secondhand smoke than in the fumes inhaled directly by smokers. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, more than 40 of which have been
proven to cause cancer. Some of the poisons in secondhand smoke include formaldehyde,
cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide, cadmium and acetone. (New York
City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 2002.)
Clean indoor air makes an immediate difference. A study in Helena,
Montana showed a 40% reduction in heart attacks in Helena during the
six months the Helena smoke free ordinance was in effect. The study shows that a comprehensive indoor smoke free law not only
protects people from the long term dangers of secondhand smoke, but may also be associated with a rapid decrease in heart
attacks. (“Reduced incidence of admissions for myocardial infarction associated with public smoking ban: before and after
study”. BMJ 2004;328:977-980, 24 April. )
Economic Impact of 100% Smokefree Ordinances
The Economic Impact of Smokefree Ordinances: Case Studies, July 2004
New York City - Business
is booming in New York’s bars and restaurants with tax receipts up 12% since the introduction and enactment of the city’s
Smokefree Indoor Air law in March 2003. (Campaign
for Tobacco Free Kids)
California - According to the California Board of Equalization,
the Golden State’s hospitality sector continues to grow since the California Clean Indoor Act was enacted in 1994. (California State Board of Equalization: California Department of Health Services,
Tobacco Control Section, November 2002; State of California, Employment Development Department, Labor Force Statistics, November
2003)
Delaware - Despite predictions that the smokefree law would
have dire economic effects on the hospitality sector, comparative data compiled by the Delaware Division of Public Health
and Division of Revenue shows that business remains steady and taproom licenses increased.
(Delaware Division of Public Health and Delaware
Division of Revenue, “Delaware’s Clean Indoor air Act: The 1st Anniversary Story,” 2004.)
Massachusetts - In 2000, a systematic statewide comparison
of 239 communities in Massachusetts revealed that local smokefree laws do not harm business.
(Bartosch, William, and Pope, Gregory, (2000), The
Economic Effect of Restaurant Smoking Restrictions on Restaurant Business in Massachusetts 1992-1998: Final Report, Center
for Health Economics Research, submitted to Massachusetts Department of Public Health, November 27, 2000.) On July 5, 2004 Massachusetts enacted a statewide clean indoor air law.
Texas - Clean indoor air ordinances were passed in Arlington,
Austin, Plano, and Wichita Falls between July 1994 and March 1996. Researchers
found no detrimental effect on restaurant sales as a result of the ordinances. (Hayslett, and Huang, “Impact of Clean Indoor Air Ordinances on Restaurant
Revenues in Four Texas Cities” March 21, 2000)
Boulder, Colorado - According to GASP (Group to Alleviate
Smoking Pollution) of Colorado, sales tax revenues continued to grow in Boulder after the passage of the smokefree restaurant
ordinance in 1995. (“Boulder’s
Smokefree Ordinances Makes Good Cents for Restaurants and Bars.” GASP of
Colorado (Group to Alleviate Smoking Pollution). 2000.)
Corvallis, Oregon - A July 1998 smokefree law in Corvallis
bars did not harm business, concluded a study conducted by the Pacific Research Institute in Eugene. (Dresser, Boles, Lichtenstein and Stryker, “Multiple Impacts of a Bar Smoking
Prohibition Ordinance in corvallis, Oregon.” Pacific Research Institute, Eugene Oregon. n.d.)
Florida -
Following enactment of a clean indoor air law affecting restaurants and most bars, revenue from the state surcharge on alcoholic
beverages sold on-premises increased by double-digit percentages from July through September. In September, for example, collections
were up 25 percent over September 2002. (Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.)
Public Support
In Maine,
76% of the public supports the states smokefree law. 85% of Connecticut residents
support their statewide smokefree workplace law. A nationwide survey voted Ireland’s workplace smoking ban the number
one favorite thing that happened in Ireland in 2004.
Possible
Liability for Allowing Secondhand Smoke
FLORIDA: RULING ON SECONDHAND SMOKE IS UPHELD - -New York Times, December 23, 2004
A state appeals court panel upheld a $500,000 award to a former T.W.A. flight attendant who blamed secondhand
smoke on airliners for her bronchitis and sinus disease. The decision could clear the way for trials on 3,000 similar claims.
The ruling for the former attendant, Lynn French, was a test case interpreting a $349 million settlement reached in 1997 between
the tobacco industry and flight attendants who were nonsmokers. The agreement settled claims attributing illnesses to in-flight
smoke on domestic flights before smoking was banned in 1990. Cigarette makers challenged the way the trial was handled, and
the attendants delayed their claims for compensatory damages while awaiting the ruling by the Third District Court of Appeal.
