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Breath Matters
The American Lung Association of California’s Monthly e-Newsletter
Improving Life, One Breath at a Time
To automatically connect with your nearest American Lung Association, or to speak with a nurse or respiratory therapist at our free HelpLine, call 800.LUNG.USA (800.586.4872).
November 26, 2003 Number 106
Content:
FREE TOBACCO SAMPLES PROVIDED TO FIREFIGHTERS
U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company (USST), manufacturer of Copenhagen and Skoal spit tobacco products, set up their Adult-Only Facility in two locations in San Diego serving as nerve centers for the fight against wildfires that burned there last month. USST set up marketing tents on property adjacent to the staging areas at Gillespie Field and Valley Center to promote its spit tobacco products.
Company representatives left the tents and entered the staging areas to offer free samples to firefighters and frontline rescue personnel. The American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties has asked the California Attorney General to investigate the activities of USST at these locations. The association is part of a statewide network that assists the Attorney General's office in monitoring tobacco industry activities and identifying potential violations of the Master Settlement Agreement and California state law.
For more information, contact Debra Kelley at 619.297.3901 or debra [at] lungsandiego [dot] org.
ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES HEALTH NETWORK FOR CLEAN AIR
The American Lung Association of California launched a new project to build a network of health organizations in California interested in air pollution issues and related advocacy efforts. The association is developing materials and outreach programs to update public health leaders and statewide public health groups about the most recent scientific findings on air pollution and health. The project is funded through a grant from The Energy Foundation.
Through the project, the American Lung Association of California held the first of three planned meetings on Air Pollution and Health Effects on October 16 at the University of California, Berkeley. The next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2004, from 10:30 to 3:30 p.m. in Fresno.
Visit http://www.californialung.org/spotlight/hn_home.html for details about the project and upcoming meeting.
For more information, contact Vandana Bali at 415.775.1065 or vbali [at] alac [dot] org.
CENTER WORKS TO EDUCATE ABOUT NEW TOBACCO LICENSING LAW
Now that the statewide tobacco licensing bill has been passed (AB 71), the American Lung Association of California¹s Center for Tobacco Policy & Organizing is working to raise awareness about the new law and continued need for stronger local tobacco licensing ordinances.
The statewide law requires tobacco retailers to get a license, however that license can only be suspended if the retailer is convicted of selling to minors four times in one year, which concerns tobacco control advocates. AB 71 provides no funding for enforcement and does not prohibit the passage of stronger local ordinances.
The center has developed a question and answer sheet about AB 71 that defines the important issues surrounding the new law. Visit http://www.californialung.org/thecenter/legislative/ab71qa.htm for more details about AB 71 and to download the Q & A.
For more information, contact Brian Peterson at 530.897.4140 or brian [at] chico [dot] com.
CONFERENCE EXAMINES CURRENT CONTROVERSIES IN PULMONARY CARE
The upcoming California Thoracic Society 2004 Annual Scientific Conference scheduled for January 29-31 in Carmel will focus on Current Controversies in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
The course is geared toward pulmonary and critical care providers and examines important issues including the use of Spiral CT in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Disease, Lung Volume Reduction Surgery, and Methods for Diagnosing Pulmonary Embolism. The program includes free admission to the 2004 Western Regional Tri-Society meetings and continuing education units are available.
For more information, visit www.thoracic.org/ca.html or contact Colleen Richardson at 714.730.1944 or cts [at] aol [dot] com.
ASSOCIATION MEMBERS WORK ON CLEAN AIR PARTNERSHIP WITH NEPAL
Through a partnership with the San Francisco Clean Cities Coalition, a delegation from Nepal attended a luncheon on November 20 in San Francisco as part of an ongoing effort to promote cleaner-fueled transportation and energy solutions in Nepal. Other partners include Winrock, a nonprofit group focused on energy resources in Nepal, Katmandu Electric Vehicle Alliance and the United States Agency of International Development.
Linda Weiner, American Lung Association of San Francisco & San Mateo Counties staff member, provided the group with a legislative history of the zero emission vehicle (ZEV) program in California. Weiner visited Nepal earlier this year to present a seminar on social marketing.
Vandana Bali, director of the American Lung Association of California¹s Clean Vehicle Program, spoke about the association¹s efforts to promote clean fleets. American Lung Association of California-Redwood Empire Branch Board Member Bill Zeller presented information about cleaner energy resources.
For more information, contact Linda Weiner at 650.994.5864 or lindaw [at] alasfsm [dot] org.
NEW STUDY SHOWS PARTICULATE POLLUTION NOT JUST ALONG HIGHWAYS
The American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails released a new report on traffic and its impact on air pollution and health. The Sacramento-Interstate 5 Aerosol Transect (Hwy I-5) Study, conducted by Thomas A. Cahill, PhD., monitored particulate levels along both sides of the I-5 highway in December 2002. Data was also collected from Arden School, downwind from a heavily traveled urban street in Sacramento, for comparison.
While federal PM2.5 standards were not exceeded, I-5 was identified as a major source of the fine particulate pollution recorded at the nearby study sites, with roughly one-third attributable to diesel particulates and smoking gasoline cars. Similar emissions were recorded near Arden School and were about as high as the emissions seen directly downwind of I-5, even though traffic on I-5 is four times greater. These findings raise questions about the need to consider measures to effectively lower exposure rates and land use policies for future development that will avoid such exposures.
For more information, contact Jennifer Finton at 916.444.5864 or jfinton [at] saclung [dot] org.
CAMPUS MENTORSHIP PROJECT SUPPORTS ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Students on four college campuses are getting support with their tobacco control advocacy efforts thanks to a program offered by the American Lung Association of the Central Coast. The Campus Advocacy and Mentorship Project (CAMP) is funded by the California Department of Health Services, Tobacco Control Section.
The project is offered at Cal Poly and Cuesta Colleges in San Luis Obispo and California State University, Monterey Bay, and Hartnell College in Monterey County. Coalitions on each campus assess current tobacco policies and student attitudes toward tobacco control issues and work with administrators to develop policies that reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke. CAMP coalition members also provide educational presentations.
CAMP has succeeded in securing proposals for designated smoking areas at Cal Poly and 25-foot smoke-free policies at Cuesta College and CSU Monterey Bay. Hartnell College is in the initial stages of assessment.
For more information, contact Gabriella Tagliacozzo at 831.373.7306 or gabtag [at] alaccoast [dot] org.
EAST BAY FOCUSES ON ASTHMA WITH TWO GRANTS
The American Lung Association of the East Bay will continue its successful Oakland Kicks Asthma program thanks to a renewed grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the fourth consecutive year. The association will also expand its asthma programs, conducting asthma education in five local elementary schools and working to identify undiagnosed school children, thanks to a grant from the national American Lung Association.
In addition to case management for some 80 students, Oakland Kicks Asthma is opening a Teen Asthma Clinic in conjunction with the Oakland Schools Adolescent Clinic. Teenagers will be referred from its school-based interventions and from the Children¹s Hospital Emergency Department. The grant also covered the hiring of a full-time asthma nurse for the Oakland School District.
For more information, contact Adam Davis at 510.893.5474 or adavis [at] alaebay [dot] org.
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