Secondhand Smoke Information

"In 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report that classified secondhand smoke as a group A carcinogen – a known cause of cancer.

In the seven years since the EPA report was released, evidence has surfaced that exposure to secondhand smoke causes other major diseases – particularly heart disease.

The California Environmental Protection Agency completed a study of the range of health effects linked to secondhand smoke exposure. The study concluded that secondhand smoke causes not only lung cancer in adults and respiratory problems in children, but also low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), middle ear infections, nasal sinus cancer, and heart disease.

In fact, secondhand smoke was estimated to account for up to 62,000 heart disease deaths every year." ("First Hand Facts on Secondhand Smoke")

FACTS . . .

• Tobacco smoke has more than 4,700 chemical compounds. At least 50 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals.

• There is NO SAFE LEVEL of exposure to a cancer-causing substance.

• In Michigan, approximately 716,000 children are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.

• Secondhand smoke is estimated by the EPA to cause approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers each year.

• Each year, exposure to secondhand smoke causes 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis).

• Children exposed to secondhand smoke at home are more likely to have middle-ear disease and reduced lung function.

• Secondhand smoke increases the number of asthma attacks and the severity of asthma in about 20 percent of this country’s 2 million to 5 million asthmatic children.

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is increased threefold if mothers smoke during and after pregnancy. It is doubled if mothers stop smoking during pregnancy and then resume smoking following birth.

• In the workplace, workers exposed to secondhand smoke are 34 percent more likely to get lung cancer. Those who work in smoking-allowed bars and restaurants are 50 percent more likely to get lung cancer than the general public.

RESTAURANT INFORMATION

• Smoke-filled rooms, such as restaurant dining rooms, can have six times the air pollution as a busy highway.

• Having separate smoking and non-smoking sections does not eliminate the exposure to secondhand smoke.

• In cities that have passed smoke-free restaurant ordinances, business has not been hurt. In many cases, it has resulted in more business. Remember, three-fourths of adults in America do not smoke.

Michigan Citizens for SmokeFree Air (MCSFA) at www.smokefreemichigan.org, is a grassroots statewide organization working for smoke-free environments wherever the public gathers. They are also publishers of the Dining Smoke Free in Michigan, a 128 page book featuring over 3500 smoke-free restaurants and eateries in the State of Michigan. A substantial portion of this website is devoted to information in the restaurant guide. Phone and FAX: 1-248-547-2600.

STATEWIDE LAW PROJECT

The Smoke-Free Environments Law Project (SFELP) at www.tcsg.org, is a statewide project which provides information, consultation and advice for businesses, local units of government, and individuals in Michigan on policies and practices to protect employees and the general public from the harmful effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and to address the legal requirements and liability issues related to ETS.

MICHIGAN CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT

Smoking is prohibited except in designated areas in all public places covered by the Michigan Clean Indoor Air Act.

Michigan Clean Indoor Act (MCCIA) affects public workplaces that are owned or operated by state or local governmental agencies (public sector areas) and many enclosed indoor areas that are used by the public but are privately owned or operated.

SMOKE-FREE WORKPLACES

Managers of workplaces not covered by the Michigan Clean Air Act can protect their employees and patrons from secondhand smoke by enacting smoke-free policies. Smoke-free policies prohibit smoking throughout entire facilities, and may also include company vehicles and grounds. The Michigan Department of Community Health’s Smoke-Free Workplace Kit can help businesses implement these policies and provide support to employees who decide to quit smoking altogether.

Call 1-800-537-5666 for a FREE Workplace Kit.

SMOKE-FREE HOMES

The United States Environmental Protection Agency has developed and promoted a Smoke-Free Home Pledge to encourage families to protect their children from secondhand smoke. By taking the pledge, you choose not to smoke in your home and do not permit others to do so. If you must smoke, you choose to smoke outside. Families can order the Kit by calling the Smoke-Free Home Pledge Hotline at 1-800-513-1157. A Kit will be mailed out to you, which includes: Tips on Keeping your Home Smoke-Free, Smoke-Free Home Magnet, and Smoke-Free Home Certificate. Families can also take the pledge online at www.epa.gov/iaq/ets.