 |
Secondhand Smoke
Research
Smoke-free laws linked to drop in child asthma attacks
A study published in Pediatrics suggests that the introduction of comprehensive smoke-free air laws dramatically reduces the number of children admitted to the hospital from asthma attacks. The study found a 12.3% decrease in childhood asthma admissions during the first year after smoke-free laws took effect in July 2007 to prohibit smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces. Prior to the law’s implementation, asthma-related hospital admissions were increasing by 2.2% a year, and once the ban took effect, the trend was immediately reversed. Asthma affects more than 300 million people worldwide, and is the most common chronic illness among children. This study shows how smoke-free air policies positively impact the health of children suffering from asthma and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke in public places. Click here to read more about this study. Click here to access the study abstract.
New national and state-specific data on smoke-free attitudes
A new study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research assessed public attitudes regarding smoke-free indoor places at national and state levels. Data from the 2009-2010 National Adult Tobacco Survey (NATS) that surveyed adults in all fifty states and D.C. were used to determine that the majority of the adults surveyed thought that workplaces (81.6%) and restaurants (74.9%) should be smoke-free. Half of the participants thought that bars, casinos, and clubs should be smoke-free, and almost half (47.5%) thought that workplaces, restaurants, bars, casinos, and clubs should be smoke-free. The respondents that were most likely to think that these environments should be smoke-free were women, older individuals, non-Hispanic Asians, individuals with higher education and income, and nonsmokers, regardless of venue. Many states are choosing to instill smoke-free laws in indoor public places, and efforts are still needed to educate the public on the dangers of secondhand smoke and the importance of smoke-free environments, especially among populations with high smoking prevalence. Click here to read the study abstract.
Smoking bans lead to fewer hospital visits (IA)
A recent study assessed the association between U.S. smoking bans passed from 1991-2008 in bars, restaurants, and workplaces and smoking-related hospital admissions among Medicare recipients ages 65 and older in Iowa. The researchers found that acute heart attack admissions decreased by about 20% at 36 months after the passing of the policies. Additionally, admission rates for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) dropped by 11% in areas where workplaces were smoke-free and 15% in places with smoke-free bars. This study provides evidence that making workplaces, bars, and restaurants smoke-free can be effective in reducing hospitalizations due to smoking-related health conditions. Click here to read more about this study published in Health Affairs. Click here to read the study abstract.
Secondhand smoke exposure in the nonsmoking section: How much protection? (MN)
A new study examined air quality related to secondhand smoke levels (SHS) in both the smoking and nonsmoking sections in bars and restaurants. Fine air particles were measured simultaneously in smoking and nonsmoking sections of fourteen Minnesota hospitality venues, and the results showed that high levels of chemical compounds were still found in nonsmoking areas. These data strengthen the evidence that the only way to fully protect people from the harmful effects of SHS is to make public places 100% smoke-free. Click here to read the study abstract published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
top
Reports
Updated municipalities and states with active smoke-free laws list
The American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation has released its quarterly update to the lists and maps of U.S. municipalities and states with active smoke-free air laws. This report states that ordinances are in effect for 100% smoke-free non-hospitality workplaces, restaurants, and bars in 558 municipalities, 24 states, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington D.C. These comprehensive laws protect 48.9% of the U.S. population from secondhand smoke. Additionally, at least 1,130 colleges and universities have campus-wide smoke-free policies, and 706 of these are completely tobacco-free. There has been growing momentum with increases in the numbers of smoke-free air laws covering parks, outdoor dining and bar patios, hospitals, and nursing homes. Click here to access all of ANRF’s updated lists, including the newest list on smoke-free multi-unit housing laws.
Colorado's casinos reach five-year anniversary of smoke-free air (CO)
New Year’s Day 2013 marked the five-year anniversary of casinos in Colorado becoming smoke-free. All forty casinos in the state became smoke-free in order to protect the health of the about 9,000 employees as well as customers of the casinos. The smoke-free air law has resulted in reduced healthcare costs, fewer sick days, and higher employee morale. According to studies, 80% of gamblers are nonsmokers, providing further evidence of the need for smoke-free casinos. Additionally, keeping customers healthy and reducing their exposure to secondhand smoke could result in fourteen additional years of gaming revenue per nonsmoking gamer. Click here to read more.
Today marks fifth anniversary of smoking ban (IL)
January 1, 2013 marked the fifth anniversary of the Smoke-free Illinois Act, which made workplaces, restaurants, bars, theaters, museums, casinos and other enclosed public places smoke-free. The Illinois Department of Health reported that the prevalence of smoking in the state has decreased from 21.3% in 2008 to 16.9% in 2010. Additionally, calls to the state quitline increased by 45% during that timeframe. The clean air law appears to be successful, and more than 90% of adults in the state report zero exposure to secondhand smoke in public places. Exposure to secondhand smoke can lead to several adverse health effects, and smoke-free air laws have been proven to be a successful method of reducing the public’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Click here to read more.
top
State Policy
Smoke-free public housing in RI (RI)
The Rhode Island Department of Housing is congratulating 16 out of 25 public housing authorities in the state for having policies that make indoor areas smoke-free and limit residents’ secondhand smoke exposure. The state’s department of housing stated that no-smoking policies are an effective way to combat secondhand smoke exposure among residents of multi-unit housing. This action was in response to a study released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that reported that 27 to 29 million Americans residing in multi-unit housing are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. In Rhode Island, about 374,942 individuals live in multi-unit housing, and these smoking bans will protect a large number of them from secondhand smoke exposure in their homes. Click here to read more.
Texas Senator drafts bill to ban public smoking (TX)
Texas Senator Rodney Ellis has filed a bill to prohibit smoking in all indoor and outdoor working environments in the state. Ellis has proposed this comprehensive smoke-free air law as a matter of public safety based on existing scientific evidence that states that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This bill may meet some resistance by smokers and business owners; however because smoke-free air policies already exist in some Texas cities, support for a statewide policy may be stronger in these areas. Click here to read more.
Bill would ban smoking in cars with kids (VA)
A Virginia bill that would ban smoking in cars where children are present is still alive in the Senate, after being rejected in the House. The House bill was sponsored by Joseph Morissey and stipulated that it would be illegal to smoke in a motor vehicle when a child under 13 years old is present. Violations would be considered a secondary offense where drivers would only be cited if pulled over for a separate reason. Fines for drivers violating the law would be $100. After a deadlock and failure to pass in the House, a similar bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Ralph Northam; however, under the Senate bill, the age of the child in the vehicle was raised to 15. Other states such as Arkansas, Louisiana, Maine, and California already have similar laws in place, and a bill of this type protects children from the adverse health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. Click here to read more. Click here to track SB 975 which has been sent to the Senate Courts of Justice Committee.
top
International
Russia moves toward strict smoking limits
Russian leaders recently voted to advance a law that will ban smoking in public places in Russia including bars, restaurants, and clubs as well as medical, sports, educational and cultural institutions. Other anti-tobacco measures under discussion are tobacco price increases, limitations on the marketing of tobacco products, and the requirement for tobacco manufacturers to disclose the components of tobacco products. Additionally, the sale of cigarettes in kiosks will be banned in the spring. The bill must be approved in a third reading in the lower house of parliament before it is voted on in the upper house and signed by President Vladimir Putin, who supports the proposal. The smoking prevalence among male and female adults in Russia is extremely high, and 400,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses and diseases each year. Click here to read about the growing support for tobacco control policies in Russia, or click here for details about the bill’s progress.
top
Back to Table of Contents
|
|
