Second Hand Smoke
Research
ETS exposure decreasing in U.S.
A new study reveals that the number of American nonsmokers
with detectable levels of cotinine, which serves as a marker
for exposure to tobacco smoke, decreased by 70% from 1988-2002.
A decline was seen in all age, gender, race, and ethnicity
groups studied, although children and black nonsmokers had
higher cotinine levels than other groups. The study was
published in the June issue of Environmental Health
Perspectives. Click
here to learn more.
Study reveals correlation between secondhand smoke
and damage to DNA
Funded by a National Institutes of Health grant, a researcher
in Reno, Nevada has found a direct correlation between exposure
to secondhand smoke in the workplace and damage to employees’
DNA. The research states that casino floor workers are exposed
to four times the amount of secondhand smoke than any other
work force population. Click here
for more information on the study findings.
Prenatal and early exposure to ETS threatens childrens’
lungs
A study of over 20,000 children in Vienna confirms that
exposure to secondhand smoke before and after birth impairs
lung function. Sixty percent of the children in the study
had been exposed to cigarette smoke before birth or in early
life. The findings appear in the American Journal of
Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Click
here for more information.
Household smoking practices not on a par with support for
smoke-free air laws
A study conducted by Mississippi State University found
that although most adults in the U.S. favor smoking restrictions
in public, many are still smoking in their homes. Ten percent
of those surveyed did not support smoking bans in the home
when children are present. Click
here for more information.
ETS exposure linked to risk of hay fever in infants
University of Cincinnati epidemiologists say that environmental
tobacco smoke is responsible for increasing infant’s
risk of developing hay fever before age 1. The research
is reported in the June issue of Pediatric Allergy and
Immunology. Click
here for more information.
ETS may harm infants from birth
In a study of the young infants of smokers, 98% had nicotine
in their urine and 93% tested positive for cotinine. Tests
also demonstrated that 47% had significant levels of a chemical
called NNAL, a cancer-causing compound produced when the
body processes NNK, a chemical specific to cigarette smoke.
The researchers believe that such exposure could increase
the children’s risk of becoming addicted to smoking
later in life and may increase the risk of developing various
smoking-related cancers. Click
here for more information.
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Air Quality Studies
Kentucky:
Louisville, KY air quality unchanged after implementation
of weak ordinance
Last November, a partial smoking ban took effect in Louisville.
Six months later, air quality remains the same inside bars,
restaurants and entertainment businesses, although it has
improved in inside businesses that went smoke free. Stricter
ordinances in Georgetown and Lexington have resulted in
far lower levels of fine particulate air pollution in public
businesses. Click
here for more information.
Oregon:
Oregon air monitoring project assesses indoor air
quality
The Oregon Air Monitoring Project of the American Cancer
Society has found that Corvallis, Oregon has the lowest
level of air pollutants in its local bars and restaurants.
Eight years after passing an ordinance, the town claims
to have the cleanest indoor air in Oregon, compared to eleven
other towns tested. Click
here to learn more.
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Resources
Surgeon General’s Report on secondhand smoke
released
A new Surgeon General’s report indicates that secondhand
smoke causes serious diseases, including lung cancer, heart
disease and respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and
asthma, and that the only way to protect people is to completely
eliminate exposure. The report demonstrates that other approaches,
such as smoking and non-smoking sections and ventilation
technology, do not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
This is the most comprehensive scientific report ever produced
on the health harms of secondhand smoke and marks the first
time the Surgeon General has issued a report on secondhand
smoke since 1986. View the report
for more information.
HUD letters regarding smoke-free apartments available
on SFELP website
SFELP has assembled four HUD letters which address the questions
of whether HUD-assisted housing can have smoke-free policies,
as well as how soon such policies can be put in place for
tenants. Also addressed is the question of whether such
policies can be made as lease amendments or as house rules.
These letters are useful in addition to the July 18, 2003
HUD letter sent to SFELP, which states that landlords of
HUD-assisted buildings could adopt smoke-free policies.
The letters are available on the Environmental
Tobacco Smoke in Apartments section of the SFELP
web site.
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International
Heather Crowe, Canadian smoke-free advocate, dead
from lung cancer
Heather Crowe developed lung cancer as a result of working
as a waitress in smoky restaurants for 40 years. She died
on May 23rd at the age of 61. She spent much of her final
years speaking out as an advocate for smoke-free legislation.
Click
here for more information.
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States
Maine:
Maine promotes smoke-free air policies
to tourists
Maine is using highway signs to promote its smoke-free air
ordinance in public buildings as another reason for vacationers
to visit the state. The signs are intended to promote awareness
among both visitors and Mainers who aren't familiar with
the state's smoking restrictions. Click here
to learn more.
Massachusetts:
Massachusetts General Hospital recognized by EPA
The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized MGH for
its work in reducing children’s exposure to secondhand
smoke. The program, called “Clinical Effort Against
Secondhand Smoke Exposure” was recently recognized
at the 2nd Children’s Environmental Health Excellence
Awards in Washington, D.C. Click
here for more information.
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Government/Prison Smoke-Free Policies
Arizona:
Litchfield Park, AZ prohibits smoking in city-owned
offices and cars
The Litchfield City Council voted to prohibit smoking inside
city offices and city-owned vehicles, as well as prohibiting
smoking within 20 feet of building entrances. Employees
caught not following the law could be fined as much as $500.
Click
here for more information.
California:
Lompoc federal prison becomes smoke free
California’s Lompoc prison is now smoke-free, in accordance
with a recent U.S. Bureau of Prisons policy banning inmate
smoking from its institutions. Tobacco products are now
considered contraband and inmates caught are subject to
penalties such as loss of recreational privileges, disciplinary
tasks, and loss of accrued “good time.” Click
here for additional information.
District of Columbia:
U.S. Capitol may go smoke-free
Representative Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) is hoping to pass
a ban on smoking in the House of Representatives, as the
recent ordinance that took effect in D.C. does not affect
Congress. Click
here for additional information.
Kentucky:
Louisville government facilities plan to go smoke-free
Once a law goes into effect on July 12th in Kentucky allowing
local governments to prohibit smoking in government buildings,
the Louisville Metro Council expects to pass such a policy
for the city’s government facilities. Council members
have stated that it’s only fair that the government
abide by the same rules as other businesses in the city,
which enacted a smoking ordinance in November. Click here
for more information.
North Carolina:
NC Senate approves smoke-free policy for Legislative
Building
North Carolina’s Senate has approved a policy prohibiting
smoking in the Legislature’s office buildings. Click
here for more information.
South Carolina:
SC House panel approves smoke-free policy in General
Assembly
A South Carolina Senate health committee unanimously approved
a bill to ban smoking in General Assembly buildings. Click
here for more information.
South Dakota:
South Dakota governor orders state-owned property
smoke-free
An executive order by the governor of South Dakota prohibits
smoking on state-owned property, including parking lots
and outside buildings. The Legislature’s Executive
Board has postponed a decision on how to respond to such
an order. Click
here for more information.
Tennessee:
Tennessee House passes bill prohibiting smoking
in state buildings
Legislation that prohibits smoking in all buildings the
state of Tennessee owns or operates was passed by the House.
The Senate had already passed a companion bill. The two
chambers must now reach agreement on an amendment added
by the House. Click
here for more information.
West Virginia:
West Virginia bans smoking in state prisons
Smoking in West Virginia’s 16 prisons and 11 juvenile
facilities is being prohibited as part of an effort to provide
a healthier environment for inmates. Tobacco use is now
only allowed outdoors, and will be banned completely by
July 1, 2007. The policy is being phased in to prevent unrest
among the prisoners. Click here
to learn more.
Wisconsin:
Middle school students advocate for smoke-free Green
Bay City Hall
Green Bay students pleading for a smoke-free City Hall took
part in the Smoke Free City Hall Campaign by coloring and
signing no-smoking signs and posters. Click here
for more information.
Wyoming:
Wyoming prisons to go smoke-free
The Wyoming Department of Corrections will go smoke-free
as of July 1st. The policy includes prisons, offices, grounds,
and vehicles. The department is also offering a tobacco
cessation program to all staff and inmates. Click here
for more information.
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Hospital Smoke-Free Policies
Note: Due to the recent proliferation
of local smoke-free hospital policies, the Tobacco Free
Press will only list state-wide policies in this category
from this issue forward.
Missouri prohibits use of tobacco products at all
healthcare facilities
A new state rule in Missouri means that as of July 30th,
hospital campuses in the state must prohibit the use of
all tobacco products. The rules include the elimination
of designated smoking areas. Penalties for violations will
begin on July 30, 2007. Click
here to learn more.
Ohio Hospital Association encouraging smoke-free
policies
At least 33 hospitals in Ohio have banned the use of tobacco
on their campuses, and 19 will soon follow suit in Cincinnati.
The Ohio Hospital Association has been encouraging tobacco-free
hospital campuses for at least two years. Click here
to learn more.
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Outdoor Smoke-Free Policies
Arizona:
Phoenix parks restrict cigarette smoking to prevent fires
To reduce the risk of wildfires, Phoenix park officials
are restricting cigarette smoking from city preserves and
desert parks. Click
here for more information.
California:
San Francisco golf courses and transit stops to
be smoke-free
The mayor of San Francisco has signed an ordinance to eliminate
smoking from golf courses. The city has already passed an
ordinance that covers parks and open spaces. In addition,
San Francisco recently passed legislation prohibiting smoking
at all city transit stops, including bus, train, and cable
car stops. Click
here for more information on the golf course policy
and here
for more information on the transit stop legislation.
More California beaches prohibiting smoking, San
Diego next on the list
In less than three years, 19 cities in four Southern California
counties have outlawed beach smoking. Such policies are
sought in order to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and
cut down on litter from cigarette butts. San Diego is poised
to pass a measure to prohibit smoking on its beaches, although
the ordinance may allow for “smoking zones”
at some city beaches. Click
here for more information on the California smoke-free beach
trend and here
for specific information on the proposed measure in San
Diego(free registration required).
Illinois:
Urbana, Illinois residents seek outdoor smoking restriction
Urbana, Illinois residents are lobbying for smoking restrictions
in recreational parks. The movement for the restriction
was initiated by a resident whose husband was charged with
disorderly conduct after asking smokers not to light up
near kids at one of her son’s ballgames. Click
here to learn more.
Massachusetts:
YWCA-sponsored bill aims to prohibit smoking
in Malden, MA parks
The mayor of Malden, MA has signed into law a bill sponsored
by the local YWCA to prohibit smoking in city parks. Violators
will face a $100 fine. Click here
for more information.
Minnesota:
Kids spread the word about smoke-free parks in Minnesota
city
Youth in Austin, Minnesota are spreading the word about
the city’s smoke-free park policy as a part of an
organization called W.O.R.D., We Oppose and Resist Drugs.
Click here
to view a video about their effort.
Pennsylvania:
Pittsburgh zoo goes tobacco-free
The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium now prohibit tobacco
use on their premises. Click here
to learn more.
South Dakota:
Yankton, South Dakota approves smoke-free parks
Yankton City Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance
to make the city’s parks smoke-free. For
more information, click here.
Utah:
Utah youth council succeeds in effort to prohibit smoking
at rodeo “family night”
Utah’s Bear River Governing Youth Council lobbied
to prohibit smoking during “Family Night” at
the Cache County Fair and Rodeo. Smokeless tobacco use,
however, will still be allowed. The Youth Council would
like to see a ban on all tobacco use and covering the entire
fairgrounds in the future. Click
here for additional information.
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College Smoke-Free Policies
California:
Student convinces Mesa College in San Diego to go smoke-free
A Mesa College freshman who suffers from asthma has prompted
the school to implement a smoke-free campus. The policy
will be phased in, with smoking initially still allowed
in designated parking lots and then prohibited within the
entire college perimeter by January 1st. Click
here for more information.
District of Columbia:
George Washington University gets serious about outdoor
secondhand smoke
After a threat of a legal complaint, George Washington University
has addressed the problem of smoking around the entrances
to all buildings on its campus. Through faculty and student
advocacy, the university agreed to put up signs on every
building telling smokers to move away from the building
entrances. Click
here for more information.
Florida:
Florida universities increasingly prohibiting smoking
State universities in Florida are increasingly passing policies
that prohibit outdoor smoking on campus. Florida State University
just launched its Breathe Easy campaign, which creates 20-
to 50-foot no-smoking zones around buildings that opt to
ban doorway dwellers and their cigarettes. The University
of Florida set up perimeters around 15 buildings three years
ago but is looking to expand its 50-foot rule to the entire
campus. And the University of North Florida is one year
into a policy that forbids smoking within 25 feet of all
buildings and "busy campus walkways." Click
here for additional information.
Indiana:
No smoking at Notre Dame Stadium
With the St. Joseph County smoke-free ordinance in place,
smoking is now prohibited in Notre Dame Stadium and other
university athletics venues. Notre Dame has banned smoking
in all university buildings, stadiums and vehicles since
1992, but the stadium ban was not previously enforced unless
someone complained. Click
here for more information.
Indiana school board considers new tobacco policy
The Vigo County School Board in Indiana is considering modifying
its current tobacco use policy, which prohibits use in buildings
and school-owned vehicles at all times and on school grounds
between 7 am and 5pm, but not during the evening. Click
here for more information.
Smoke-free school property becoming the norm in
Indiana
Many school districts in Indiana have prohibited smoking
for anyone on school grounds. Click here
to learn more.
Kentucky:
Eastern Kentucky University enacts smoking policy
As of July 1st, smoking will be limited to designated areas
on the Richmond campus of Eastern Kentucky University. Click
here to learn more.
Wisconsin:
Western Technical College in Wisconsin to be smoke-free
Joining the smoke-free movement in Wisconsin, Western Technical
College will become smoke-free next year, date to be announced.
Click
here for more information.
International:
North Korean government forbids smokers from enrolling
in college
The North Korean government announced on World No Tobacco
Day that any university students who smoke will no longer
be allowed to enroll. Click here for more information.
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Smoke-Free Dining
Zagat finds overwhelming support for smokefree
restaurants, bars, and clubs
Zagat recently surveyed more than 115,000 people for its
2006 America's Top Restaurants guide, and found that 89
percent of all Americans and 83 percent of Philadelphia
respondents think smoking should be totally banned in restaurants.
Of Philadelphia locals, 72 percent said they would dine
out the same amount if restaurants were smoke-free, while
25 percent would dine out more. Only 3 percent said they
would dine out less. In addition, Zagat’s 2004 survey
found that 96 percent of New Yorkers were eating out as
much -- or more -- after a smoke-free air law took effect
in that state. Click
here for the rest of the editorial from Tim Zagat.
District of Columbia:
DC bar becomes smoke-free seven months early
Washington DC’s Town and Country Lounge at the Mayflower
Hotel has begun its own smoking ban seven months prior to
the implementation of the District’s ordinance on
New Year’s 2007. Click here
for more information.
Idaho:
Idaho restaurant owner makes establishments smoke-free
Out of concern for a restaurant manager fighting cancer,
a restaurant owner in Idaho has made the decision to make
his restaurants smoke-free. The decision was based on a
plea from the manager’s doctors. Click here
Minnesota:
St. Paul bars and restaurants rush to add smoker-friendly
outdoor spaces
In recent months, several St. Paul restaurants and bars
have inquired regarding adding outdoor seating, which would
be exempt from the city’s new smoking ordinance. Click
here for additional information.
Nebraska:
Lincoln business owners report sales are
up since ordinance passed
Restaurants and bars in Lincoln, Nebraska have reported
that business is better since the passage of a city smoke-free
air ordinance, to their surprise. This may help in Omaha,
where the City Council has just passed a partial ban. Click
here
to learn more.
New Hampshire:
New Hampshire businesses voluntarily going smoke-free
After the state failed to pass a smoke-free law, the debate
has prompted business owners to go smoke-free on their own.
Supporters say the legislature ignored the wishes of the
majority, while opponents say a law is not needed. One bar
owner says as long as everyone does it, there is not as
much impact on business. Click
here to learn more.
South Carolina:
Greenville, SC restaurants going smoke-free
Two major restaurant groups in Greenville have gone smoke-free.
Click
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060612/clm506.html?.v=30
here for more information.
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Smoke-Free Dwellings
California:
California grants support smoke-free living environments
for LGBT residents and others
Three non-profit organizations in central California have
received a total of over $1 million for targeted anti-smoking
programs where people live, work and play. Pajaro Valley
Prevention and Student Services will use the funding to
reduce smoking and second-hand smoking risks at outdoor
recreational areas and family events. The service helped
create the first smoke-free apartment complex in Santa Cruz
County last August. The Diversity Center hopes to work with
landlords to reduce second-hand smoke in the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender
community by creating smoke-free living environments. Click
here to learn more.
Idaho:
Boise to reconsider proposed smoking ban in public
housing
Boise city leaders are reconsidering a policy to prohibit
smoking in city-owned low-income housing. The proposal was
brought about as a result of Idaho’s Clean Indoor
Air Act, implemented in 2004, which prohibits smoking in
publicly-owned buildings and offices. Click here
to learn more.
Maine:
Maine and California hold conferences to encourage
smoke-free housing
The Smoke-Free Coalition of Maine recently held a conference
for local policy makers, tenants and landlords to help them
become involved in the effort to make homes smoke-free.
The conference, which was held in both Bangor and Portland,
was designed to reduce involuntary exposure to secondhand
smoke, which can seep between units. Click
here for more information. A similar conference was
held in California in April, and the state program manager
will be presenting on progress on smoke-free multi-unit
housing at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Click
here to learn more about the presentation.
Michigan:
Michigan’s East Jordan Housing Commission
adopts smoke-free policy for elderly housing
The East Jordan Housing Commission in northern Michigan
voted unanimously to adopt a smoke-free policy for the elderly
housing at Lakeview Manor. The policy will make all 20 units
at Lakeview Manor smoke-free, with the policy going into
effect upon final approval for all current non-smoking residents,
all guests and all staff. The policy will allow current
residents who are smokers to continue to smoke in their
own apartment unit until lease renewal/re-certification,
which will occur in about 11 months. At that time, the entire
building will be smoke-free. Smoking will only be permitted
50 feet or more from the building.Click
here for more information.
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Hotel Smoke-Free Policies
Iowa:
Heartland Inns go smoke-free
Heartland Inns of America, LLC, with 19 locations in Iowa
and Wisconsin, has decided to become 100% smoke-free in
response to increasing guest demand for smoke-free rooms.
Click here
for more information.
Virginia:
Virginia’s Newport News Marriott opens as
a smoke-free hotel
The new Newport News Marriott at City Center opened June
15th as a completely smoke-free facility. Click here
to learn more.
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