Secondhand Smoke

Research

Smoking in cars produces harmful pollutants at levels above WHO indoor air quality standards
A large study on children’s exposure to secondhand smoke in cars finds that indoor smoking produces harmful substances that are likely to lead to negative health effects. The levels of fine particulate matter produced by smokers in cars were measured every minute in the rear passenger area during a three day period. The measures were taken at a child’s head height during 83 car rides, where less than half of the car rides (34%) were smoke-free. Regardless of whether the smokers opened the car windows or turned on the air conditioner, levels of particulate matter were higher than the maximum safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). When children are exposed to secondhand smoke, their health is at risk, and this study provides evidence that the exposure is significant in confined spaces like cars. Proposed legislation in countries such as Canada, the U.S. and Australia to ban smoking in cars in which children are passengers is substantiated by studies like this one. Click here to read more about this study published in Tobacco Control.

Smoke-free workplace leads to fewer heart attacks
A recent study reports that the implementation of smoke-free laws in workplaces is associated with a reduction in heart attacks. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic evaluated the population impact of smoke-free laws by measuring the incidence of heart attacks in a Minnesota county during an eighteen month period before and after the implementation of two smoke-free laws. A partial smoke-free law was implemented in the county in 2002, and in 2007, a more comprehensive law mandated that all workplaces were to be smoke-free. When researchers compared data from before the 2002 law with data collected after the 2007 law, heart attack incidence declined by 33%, and sudden deaths resulting from heart attacks decreased by 17%. A reduction in the exposure to secondhand smoke appears to reduce the rate of heart attacks, and is associated with the implementation of smoke-free laws. Click here to read more about this study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Secondhand smoke and smoke-free policies in owner-occupied multi-unit housing
Previous research has examined secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure within multi-unit housing, but few studies have focused on common-interest communities (CICs) where residents own units and live in them for longer periods of time. CIC residents in Minnesota were surveyed in 2009 regarding their smoking habits, SHS exposure in their units, smoke-free policies of their housing community, and related beliefs. Among the 495 households that completed the survey, 28% of households reported SHS exposure in their unit within the past six months, with more than half reporting that it bothered them a lot. Only 6% of respondents reported having smoke-free policies, and 42% in the CICs assessed would prefer a smoke-free policy compared to 26% who preferred that smoking was allowed. The majority (63%) also reported that they would definitely choose a nonsmoking building over a smoking permitted building with 46% willing to pay more for a smoke-free unit. Evidence shows that SHS exposure is common in CICs, and future tobacco control efforts should focus on CICs as well as rental apartments. Click here to read the abstract and full report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Comprehensive smoke-free law coverage in the 50 largest U.S cities: 2000 and 2012
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) that contains a list of the existing comprehensive smoke-free (CSF) laws in the 50 largest cities in the U.S. A smoke-free law is considered to be comprehensive if it prohibits smoking in all indoor workplaces, including restaurants and bars, with no exceptions. The CDC and the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation (ANRF) compared data on state CSF laws between December 31, 2000 and October 5, 2012 to analyze the trends. The analysis focused on the 50 largest cities, as they are inhabited by 15% of the U.S population. The number of cities covered with local or state CSF laws increased from one (2%) in 2000 to 30 cities (60%) in 2012. Twenty cities (40%) were found not to be covered by any CSF law – local or statewide - in 2012. This report suggests that progress has been made in the twelve year period that was assessed; however, gaps in coverage do exist, especially in the southern states that preempt local smoking restrictions. Click here to access the report. Click here to read the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network’s statement regarding this report, or click here to read the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids’ statement.

Indoor air quality at nine large-hub airports with and without designated smoking areas
A new Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discusses air pollution in airports from secondhand smoke (SHS). The study was conducted in some of the largest airports in the U.S., and reports that air pollution levels directly outside of designated smoking areas were five times higher than levels measured in smoke-free airports. Designated smoking areas included restaurants, bars, and ventilated smoking rooms. Additionally, air pollution levels inside of designated smoking areas were 23 times higher than air pollution levels in smoke-free airports. According to this study, airports that have designated smoking areas are not effectively protecting the public's health, as they continue to expose airport workers and travelers to SHS. The only way to fully protect people from SHS exposure is to ban smoking in all indoor areas of airports. The five major hub airports that allow smoking hosted more than 110 million travelers — about 15% of all U.S. air travel - last year. Read more here, or click here to access the full report. Want to see how your local airports measure up on smoke-free air? Click here for a fact sheet from Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights on smoking policies in the 35 busiest airports in the U.S.

top

State Policy

North Dakota voters ban smoking in bars, indoor workplaces (ND)
Voters in the state of North Dakota approved a ballot measure on November 6th that expands the state’s existing smoke-free law to prohibit smoking in bars, restaurants, and other workplaces including motels, private nursing homes, cabs, and public transportation. Violations for breaking this law can range from a $50 fine to bars losing their tobacco and liquor licenses. This law was a topic of contention for the past few months as supporters and opponents of this law squared off prior to Election Day. North Dakota joins twenty-nine other states that have already implemented comprehensive smoke-free laws such as this one. Click here for the full story. Click here to read a statement from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids on the passing of this new law. The state department of health is making free services and nicotine replacement medications available to smokers wanting to quit before the law takes effect on December 6, 2012. Read more here.

Two years later, few flout smoking ban (SD)
Compliance with the statewide indoor smoking ban in South Dakota has been fairly high according to state officials. The law that prohibits carrying a lit tobacco product in any public indoor facility or workplace took effect on November 10, 2010, and this new report states that there have only been 20 citations since then. The law has two components that must be followed: the first component requires bar owners and managers to notify patrons of the new policy, and the second component is the actual ban of smoking. Spot checks are being conducted on a county by county basis. Click here to learn more.

top

International

Smoking bans cut number of heart attacks, strokes
According to a new study published in Circulation, comprehensive smoke-free air laws reduce the incidence of hospitalizations from heart attacks, strokes, and respiratory diseases. This study is the largest meta-analysis of smoke-free laws to date, and included 45 studies that assessed 33 laws in American cities and states as well as in New Zealand and Germany. Data show that heart attack hospitalizations decreased by an average of 15% as a result of the passage of smoke-free laws in restaurants, bars, and workplaces. Additionally, stroke and respiratory disease (asthma and emphysema) hospitalizations decreased by 16% and 24%, respectively. An association was found between how comprehensive the law was, and the health impact; the more comprehensive the law, the higher the health impact. Based on this study, there is evidence that smoke-free air laws are associated with reductions in negative health outcomes related to secondhand smoke exposure. Click here to read more. Click here to access the study abstract.

Current tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure among women of reproductive age — 14 countries, 2008–2010
A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined current tobacco use and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in women of reproductive age in fourteen countries. Data were analyzed from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) from fourteen low- and middle-income countries on tobacco use and SHS exposure in women aged 15 to 49. The data showed that the prevalence of smoking among these women ranged from 0.4% in Egypt to 30.8% in Russia. Smokeless tobacco use was less than 1% in most countries, but was more common among women in Bangladesh (20.1%) and India (14.9%). SHS exposure was common in all of the countries assessed with prevalence ranging from 17.8% in Mexico to 72.3% in Vietnam. Tobacco use and SHS exposure in reproductive age women has been associated with pregnancy complications, preterm delivery, and even infant death. The data suggest that smoking cessation programs need to be promoted in countries with high smoking rates, and the focus in countries with low smoking prevalence should be on preventing smoking initiation. Click here to read the full Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) article.

Smoke-free laws database (Canada)
A searchable database of smoke-free laws across Canada is available online from the Non-Smokers’ Rights Association / Smoking and Health Action Foundation. This new database is continuously updated, and contains laws and bylaws that exceed provisions of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. It is available to the general public as well as public health staff, community advocates, and others who are interested in health issues. Click here to read more about this database, and for instructions on how to access this data.

top

Back to Table of Contents