Second Hand Smoke
Research
Lung cancer risk and workplace exposure to environmental tobacco smoke
A recently published meta-analysis in the American Journal of Public Health looked at data from 22 studies to assess the association between workplace environmental tobacco smoke exposure and lung cancer. Analysis indicated a 24% increase in lung cancer risk among workers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke and a 2-fold increased risk for workers highly exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. The findings provide strong evidence of the relationship between environmental tobacco smoke exposure and increased risk of lung cancer. Click here for the full article.
top
Resources
Tobacco Assistance Legal Center introduces model ordinances
The Tobacco Assistance Legal Center (TALC) has made available two new model ordinances to help California cities and counties limit exposure to secondhand smoke and limit tobacco use on the beaches and other recreational areas, such as parks, playgrounds, or sports fields. The new model ordinances for beaches and recreational areas, as well as a comprehensive secondhand smoke model ordinance, are available on the website. For more information or technical assistance click here or contact TALC staff attorney Robin Salsburg at (510) 444-8252 ext. 376 or at rsalsbury@phi.org.
Tobacco Control Legal Consortium – Legal Update January 2007
Featured the January issue is a new Legal Consortium publication on “Legal Options for Condominium Owners Exposed to Secondhand Smoke” and updates on several legal challenges to statewide indoor air acts and smoke-free ordinances. The Update also includes information about the proposed Atlantic City ordinance to prohibit smoking in casinos and an intriguing Ohio Supreme Court “smoking break” case, as well as links to helpful resources on tobacco law-related issues. Click here to read the Update.
Tobacco Control Legal Consortium – Legal Update February 2007
The February newsletter features a new Legal Consortium publication that addresses the timely issue of “Secondhand Smoke and Casinos,” including updates on movements in Atlantic City and Colorado to limit smoking in casinos, as well as information on initiatives to prohibit smoking in cars with children. The Update contains information on several key court decisions, including the Connecticut Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold the state smoke-free law and the Supreme Court of Guam’s ruling to uphold its territory-wide smoke-free law, as well as the latest on the Schwab “light” cigarette case and the Lorillard “cigarette giveaway” case. Finally, the Legal Update includes links to helpful resources on tobacco law-related resources and events. Click here to read the Update.
ANR launches updated Protect Local Control website
Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR) has launched an improved Protect Local Control website. The new site features include a color-coded front page map of the U.S., which indicates each state's preemption status; an improved site search feature; and a more user-friendly resources page. Click here to access the Protect Local Control website.
top
National
Anti-smoking American milestone reached
For the first time in the nation’s history, more than half of Americans live in a city or state with laws that require workplaces, restaurants or bars to be smoke-free. The Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation reported that with the enactment of Nevada’s ban, which went into effect December 8th, the total U.S. population covered by any type of smoke-free law increased to 50.2 percent. Click here to read more.
U.S. Capitol going smokefree!
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced that the U.S. Capitol will be smokefree. The decision to eliminate smoking from the Speaker’s Lobby is both a public health victory and a symbolic decision. Click here to read more. Click here to review the press release from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
top
States
District of Columbia/Louisiana
District of Columbia and Louisiana smokefree laws take effect
On January 1st, a new smokefree law took effect in Louisiana, prohibiting smoking in most public places and workplaces, including restaurants, while stand-alone bars are exempt from this legislature. Also, Louisiana’s partial preemption of local smokefree laws was repealed. Additionally, the District of Columbia became completely smokefree on January 2nd. The law prohibits smoking in all indoor workplaces, restaurants, and bars. Click here to read more.
Maine
Council supports smoking ban in cars
Bangor will become the first city in Maine, perhaps in the nation, to ban adults from smoking in any motor vehicle when children are present. The Bangor City Council approved a measure that prohibits any driver or passenger from lighting up a cigarette or other smoking material in a motor vehicle if anyone under age 18 is in the vehicle. Violators of the new city ordinance can be fined $50. The law applies to any motor vehicle on any public road within the city limits. Click here to read the full article.
Minnesota
Minnesota secondhand smoke ad campaign asks ‘Are You OK With That?’
ClearWay Minnesota has launched a powerful new advertising campaign presenting Minnesotans with the facts about secondhand smoke and the devastating impact it can have on individuals and families. The tagline for the campaign is designed to spark discussion about secondhand smoke by asking "Are You OK With That?" The campaign includes two 30-second television commercials, as well as print ads, bus sides, transtops, mall kiosks and an interactive website. The campaign runs statewide through July. Click here to read the press release or here to view the campaign.
Texas
Fostering good child care: Take smoking outside
Foster parents in Texas have just been given another reason to make quitting smoking their No. 1 New Year's resolution. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' publication, "Minimum Standards for Child-Placing Agencies," states that as of New Year's Day, "caregivers and other adults may only smoke tobacco products outside" and "no one may smoke tobacco products in a motor vehicle while transporting children in care." Click here to read the press release and here to visit the agency's website.
top
International
EU could impose smoking ban across continent
A Europe-wide smoking ban on smoking in public places may be in the works as a European commission examines the experiences of countries, including Ireland, Sweden, and Italy, with stringent no-smoking policies. Markos Kyprianou, the EU health commissioner, is heading the beginning steps in a long legislative process that may result in an EU-wide ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants, and other public places. European opinion polls show large majorities in favor of a total ban on smoking in public places. For more information, click here. The EU is also stepping up efforts through the Help campaign, with a new TV spot that will air on more than 80 European TV channels. Click here for more information about the Help campaign.
EU administrative office repeals smoking ban after only 43 days
The European Parliament's administrative office voted to end a New Year's ban on smoking in all buildings in the European Union after a mere 43 days.The administrative office's decision, which passed with a vote of 12-1, comes after countless citizens continually violated the international union's fight against public cigarette smoking, Deutsche Welle said. "A complete ban started on Jan. 1," an EU press officer said. "In practice this was not working too well, people were not obeying it." Yet many alleged that the sudden change in the European Union's stance on smoking was due primarily to a major change in its European parliamentary office. Click here to learn more.
Thailand
Anti-smoking bans extended today
A new ban in Thailand will outlaw smoking in virtually all public places. Thailand has one of the toughest anti-smoking laws in the world. To learn more, click here.
top
Back to Table of Contents
|
