Lung Health News, Fall 2001 / Winter 2002
Children can play on swings, slides and monkey bars without being exposed to secondhand smoke thanks to a landmark law (AB 188, Juan Vargas, D-San Diego)that creates a smoke-free zone around sandboxes and play areas in playgrounds. The American Lung Association of California supported the legislation, which is the first of its kind in the nation.
While California has the most comprehensive protections for workers and the public in enclosed, indoor facilities, there was no law that addressed outdoor tobacco smoke. Cigarette smoke is a human carcinogen and can exacerbate asthma, which is on the rise among children.
