Second Hand Smoke

Research

Lifetime exposure to secondhand smoke increases risk of lung cancer mortality
According to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, secondhand smoking increases the risk of lung cancer and lung cancer mortality. The research, presented at the recent Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, also found that early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who are exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke over their lifetimes do not live as long, on average, as those with low levels of exposure. The lead author of the study says that this is the first study to show that secondhand smoking also is associated with lung cancer survival. Click here for more information.

Secondhand smoke linked to cognitive deficits in children
A study in the January 2005 issue of Environmental Health Perspectives shows that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is linked to declines in reading, math, logic and reasoning abilities in children. Click here to view the abstract.

Diabetes linked to passive smoking
A study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that passive smoking increases the risk of developing diabetes. In the 15-year study, researchers found smokers had the highest risk of glucose intolerance, with 22 percent of them developing diabetes. In addition, 17 percent of those who never smoked but were exposed to secondhand smoke developed the condition as well. Click here for more information.

Secondhand smoke and heart disease risk
Researchers from the University of California-San Francisco found that passive smoking reduces the blood's ability to deliver oxygen to the heart and compromises the myocardium's ability to use oxygen to create adenosine triphosphate, resulting in reduced exercise capability. Secondhand smoke increases platelet activity, accelerates atherosclerotic lesions, and increases tissue damage following ischemia or myocardial infarction. The effects of secondhand tobacco smoke on the cardiovascular system are not caused by a single component of the smoke, but rather are caused by the effects of many elements. Click here to view the entire abstract.

ETS exposure linked to pneumoniae infection in children
A study published in the April 1st issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases found that children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke appear to be more likely to be infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae than those who are not. Click here for more information.

Asthmatic children remain exposed to ETS
An article in the March/April 2006 issue of Ambulatory Pediatrics indicates that many children with asthma, even those with the most severe symptoms, remain exposed to environmental tobacco smoke in the home and in cars. In a survey of the caregivers of asthmatic children, researchers found that, among households with smokers, only 51% had a ban on smoking in the home and 49% in the car. The majority of caregivers had been questioned by health care professionals about home smoke exposure; less were asked about exposure in the car (40%) or given suggestions to decrease the child's exposure (58%). Click here to view the abstract.

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Irish pub air quality study conducted by Harvard University School of Public Health
Research conducted by the Roswell Cancer Institute and Harvard University School of Public Health along with researchers in Ireland shows that it's healthier to celebrate St. Patrick's Day like the Irish - in a smoke-free bar or pub. The study measured air pollution levels in 128 Irish pubs in 15 countries, including in the United States and in Ireland, which in March 2004 became the first country to implement a nationwide law making all indoor workplaces smoke-free, including restaurants and bars. The study found that the average level of air pollution inside Ireland's smoke-free pubs was 91 percent lower than inside Irish-themed pubs located in countries and cities that still permit workplace smoking. In the United States, the study found that pubs in smoke-free cities have 95 percent less air pollution than the pubs in U.S. cities that still allow workplace smoking. To view the entire report and a webcast, click here.

Customers in "non-smoking" sections exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke
An article in the January 2006 issue of the Journal of Public Health demonstrated that customers sitting in non-smoking areas of pubs in the U.K. were, on average, exposed to as much as two-thirds of the smoke that circulated in smoking areas. Click here to view the abstract.

ETS health hazard for food service workers
Researchers from the University of California-Berkeley sought to determine the relative exposure to environmental tobacco smoke for bar and restaurant employees compared with office employees and with nonsmokers exposed in the home and to determine whether this exposure is contributing to an elevated lung cancer risk in these employees. Levels of environmental tobacco smoke in restaurants were approximately 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than in office workplaces of other businesses and 1.5 times higher than in residences with at least one smoker. Levels in bars were 3.9 to 6.1 times higher than in offices and 4.4 to 4.5 times higher than in residences. The epidemiologic evidence suggested that there may be a 50% increase in lung cancer risk among food-service workers that is in part attributable to tobacco smoke exposure in the workplace. Click here to view the abstract.

Madison bartenders breathing easier
University of Wisconsin researchers have found that nonsmoking bartenders working in bars where smoking was allowed before an ordinance went into effect last July have already shown improvement. Symptoms such as runny noses, irritated eyes, coughing, and sore throat have decreased among nonsmoking workers. Click here for more information.

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Hookah Bars and Clean Indoor Air Laws fact sheet
A fact sheet developed by the Capital University Tobacco Public Policy Center entitled “Hookah Bars and Clean Indoor Air Laws” is now available online here.

Smoke-free apartment and condominium fact sheets
Two separate 2-page Fact Sheets on smoke-free apartments and smoke-free condominiums have been prepared by Smoke-Free Environments Law Project. The fact sheets provide succinct information about the rights of landlords/condominium owners and associations to adopt smoke-free policies for their apartment/condominium buildings. The sheets provides basic information about health and economic reasons for adopting smoke-free apartment/condominium policies. To access the fact sheet on condominiums, click here . To access the fact sheet on apartments, click here. For additional information, go to our MISmokeFreeApartment site here.

New TobaccoScam ads on link between ETS and breast cancer and on smoke-free restaurants
An ad featuring a picture of female waitresses and discussing the link between ETS and breast cancer can be accessed at here. Also available is an ad featuring the owners of Pierre’s, a restaurant in Morristown, New Jersey, regarding their increased business since going smoke-free; it is one in a series of full-page testimonials from restaurant and bar owners across the country published in hospitality trade magazines. The Pierre’s ad ran in Nation's Restaurant News on March 20, and will run in Restaurant Business, April 15. To see the ad, click here. TobaccoScam is a project of Stanton Glantz, PhD, of the School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

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States

Kentucky citizens not getting secondhand smoke message
According to the University of Kentucky's Center for Smoke-free Policy, only 43% of the people polled believe that secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard. However, 62% support smoke-free policies. The questions were added to a larger survey conducted by academic medical centers throughout the country. Click here for more information.

Minnesota:
 
Support for smoke-free ordinances remains strong in Minnesota
As the one-year anniversary of smoke-free ordinances in several of Minnesota's largest communities approaches, residents say they still overwhelmingly support laws that prohibit smoking in bars and restaurants. The findings are from new surveys conducted among residents of Hennepin and Beltrami counties and the cities of Minneapolis, Bloomington, Golden Valley and Moorhead, all of which implemented a smoke-free ordinance on March 31st. Click here for more a press release from the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco.

Washington:
 
Washington state Department of Health Campaign earns 2005 bronze award of excellence for educational TV Campaign
In recognition of the state of Washington's 2005 secondhand-smoke education campaign, the National Public Health Information Coalition, an independent organization of health communication professionals, awarded the Washington state Department of Health a bronze award of excellence in public health communication. The campaign's television spots addressed two distinct issues. The first spot, "Pest Guy," invoked an emotional response about the need to protect workers in smoke-filled environments. The second, "Gas Mask," demonstrated the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure in public places people frequent. Click here for more information.

West Virginia:
 
West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources revises position statement on Clean Indoor Air regulation
West Virginia’s Department of Health and Human Resources has revised its Position Statement on Clean Indoor Air Regulation. The newly revised position statement is based upon solid research and extensive work done by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. According to Bruce Adkins, West Virginia tobacco control program manager, this position statement has several strong points regarding passage of comprehensive, 100% clean indoor regulations by local health departments in West Virginia. For more details or a copy of the position statement, contact Bruce at bruce.adkins@wvdhhr.gov.

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California:
 
California’s San Joaquin County Jail to go tobacco-free
The San Joaquin County Jail will be going tobacco-free effective July 1st. Click here for more information.

Kentucky:
 
Pike County, Kentucky will prohibit smoking in public buildings
The Pike County Fiscal Court has voted to ban smoking in the county's courthouse and Hall of Justice building. The court will have a second vote at next month's meeting. If approved, the ordinance will go into effect July 15, 2006. Click here for more information.

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Arizona:
 
Tucson health network hospitals go smoke-free
Carondelet Health Network's two Tucson hospitals and health clinics will no longer allow smoking. Click here for more information.

Minnesota:
 
Several Minnesota hospital campuses go tobacco-free voluntarily
Fairview University Medical Center-Mesabi and Mesaba Clinics located in Hibbing, Nashwauk and Mountain Iron, Minnesota will be going tobacco-free. Click here for more information.

Missouri:
 
Medical center in Missouri to go tobacco-free
Nevada Regional Medical Center in Missouri will be a tobacco-free campus by September. Click here for more information.

New York:
 
Two Utica, NY medical centers ban tobacco
Smoking will be banned at St. Elizabeth Medical Center and Faxton-St. Luke's Healthcare in Utica, NY beginning in November, an effort that brings the hospitals in line with anti-tobacco measures being implemented by medical facilities throughout the state. Click here for more information.
 
Group of Albany area clinics to go tobacco-free
A coalition of fifteen area treatment providers, including human service agencies and health and counseling centers around the Albany area, will be banning all tobacco use on their grounds by Feb. 14, 2007. Click here for more information.

North Carolina:
 
North Carolina’s Frye Regional Medical Center copes with change to tobacco-free campus
Frye Regional Medical Center implemented a campus tobacco ban approximately two months ago. To learn more about how employees are coping with the ban and the programming instituted by the center, go here.
 
Asheboro, NC hospital goes smoke-free
Randolph Hospital in Asheboro, NC will go tobacco free, prohibiting smoking both inside the hospital and outside on hospital grounds, in areas such as parking lots. The hospital is making the move to make its campus environment healthier, and to serve as a role model for healthy behaviors in the community. Click here for more information.

Ohio:
 
Akron General Medical Center to go smoke-free this summer
Starting July 4th, Akron General Medical Center will prohibit smoking and other tobacco use will on the main campus and its health centers. The hospital will offer smoking cessation classes for employees, volunteers and community members. Click here for more information.

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California:
 
Monterrey bans smoking on beaches
The Monterey City Council voted unanimously to prohibit the use of tobacco on city-owned beaches, making it the third city in the county to forbid tobacco use on its beaches. Click here for more information.
 
Santa Cruz considering smoking ordinance for public parks
The Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department has proposed a no-smoking proposal for the city’s public parks, following a statewide trend. Click here for more information.

Illinois:
 
Chicago-area parks debate going smoke-free
Nearly 400 communities from West Virginia to California currently ban smoking in parks and on beaches. Many Chicago-area neighborhoods have implemented or are considering implementing such policies, but not all local park districts agree with the move, arguing it would be too difficult to find the resources to police violators. Click here for more information. (free registration required)

Pennsylvania:
 
Harrisburg considers ban on smoking in parks
The Harrisburg City Council is considering a bill to ban smoking in the City Government Center, firehouses, garages, maintenance sheds, vehicles, and city parks. Click here for more information.

South Dakota:
 
South Dakota town becomes first in state to have smoke-free parks
Yankton is making history as the first town in South Dakota to place a no-smoking policy on its city-run parks. Click here for more information.

Utah:
 
Teens prompt Utah town to ban smoking in public outdoor areas
The Midvale City Council voted to ban smoking from all city-owned gathering spots, including parks, recreational fields and the cemetery. Midvale began considering the ban after a presentation from a local chapter of Teens Against Tobacco Use. Click here for more information.

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District of Columbia:
 
George Washington University passes non-smoking policy
George Washington University will be implementing a policy that restricts smoking near entrances to all University-owned buildings by next fall. The policy comes after legal threats from a University law professor and a student-led petition advocating the change. Click here for more information.

Illinois:
 
Illinois may ban dorm smoking
Despite concerns that the decision should be left to the universities, legislation banning smoking in all public and private college dorms was approved by the Illinois House with an 85-25 vote. State Rep. John Fritchey, D-Chicago said it is important for the state to intervene because the issue affects the health and safety of students. Senate Bill 2465 now goes to the governor. Click here for more information.

Iowa:
 
Panel to study outdoor smoking at University of Iowa
A special task force at the University of Iowa is reviewing current smoking policies. If a campuswide ban is approved, the university will become the first campus in the Big Ten with such a policy. Click here for more information.

North Carolina:
 
Eden, North Carolina schools ban tobacco use on school property
The county school board in Eden, NC has voted to ban the use of tobacco products anywhere on school property. The policy applies to all students, faculty, contractors and visitors to the schools, and does not make exemption for school functions such as sporting events. Click here for more information.

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Virginia:
 
Smoke-free dining site for Virginia available
The Virginia Tobacco Use Control Program is developing a searchable Web site where you can find smoke-free restaurants across the state. Visit the site at www.vasmokefreedining.com.

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Michigan:
 
HUD-subsidized elder community in Michigan goes smoke-free
Dillon Hall, a 76 unit apartment building for low-income persons aged 62 and over, adopted a smoke-free policy in spring 2005. The policy said there would be no smoking allowed by residents, guests, or staff effective on the date of adoption of the policy; however, current residents who were smokers were exempted from the policy until such time as their lease came up for renewal, which happens annually on the date the person moved into Dillon Hall. Now, almost a year later, Dillon Hall is completely smoke-free. Residents who had the exemption have either had their lease renewed, with the requirement that they not smoke anywhere inside, or they have moved. Smoking is allowed outside Dillon Hall, but not closer than 50 feet from the building. Dillon Hall is a HUD-subsidized apartment community, located in Nazareth, Michigan, which is next to Kalamazoo. HUD was notified of the smoke-free policy when it was adopted and approved of it. Dillon Hall is operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Smoke-Free Environments Law Project has assisted Dillon Hall in adopting and implementing this policy. Dillon Hall is now listed in the online smoke-free apartment listing on the MISmokeFreeApartment web site which can be accessed directly by going here.

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