June 27 , 2006

Contact:
- Andrew Weisser, (818) 703-6444, aweisser@earthlink.net
www.californialung.org
or your local American Lung Association at (800) LUNG-USA

U.S. Surgeon General Report Confirms Health Consequences of Secondhand Smoke

--Although a Role-Model, California Can Do More to Save Lives

June 27, 2006, (Oakland, CA) – Twenty years after the first U.S. Surgeon General’s report on the dangers of secondhand smoke, the latest report issued today by the Surgeon General finds that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The new report, entitled The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, confirms that secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and heart disease and has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

Today’s report from our nation’s top public health official underscores the need for comprehensive laws to protect everyone from the dangers of secondhand smoke. In the preface to this report, Surgeon General Carmona writes, “Nonsmokers need protection through the restriction of smoking in public places and workplaces…”

“Californians have the opportunity to help reduce the impact of secondhand when they go to the polls in November and vote yes on the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006,” said Paul Knepprath, Vice President of Government Relations with the American Lung Association of California. “Secondhand smoke is still a leading cause of preventable illness and death in California, especially for people with asthma and other lung diseases. Secondhand smoke causes more than 31,000 asthma attacks by children in the state every year.”

Earlier this year, the American Lung Association kicked off its nationwide Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge calling on state and local policymakers to pass and strengthen smokefree air laws so that everyone in the country will be protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Elected officials across the country are realizing that smokefree laws have overwhelming popular support and a growing number of state and local governments are enacting smokefree laws.

Currently, 14 states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii1 , Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have already passed strong smokefree air laws.2 This November, voters in Arizona, Ohio and Nevada will have the chance to vote on similar measures. Now is the time for legislators in California to clear the air of tobacco smoke.

Businesses are also realizing how important smokefree workplaces are for their employees and customers. Earlier this year, Westin Hotel and Resorts announced it would become the first major hotel brand in the United States and Canada to go smokefree throughout its hotels. In 2004, Zagat, publisher of restaurant and leisure guides for locations around the world, found that restaurant-goers in New York City were eating out more because of the smokefree law.

Today’s Surgeon General’s report highlights the harmful consequences of exposing children to secondhand smoke. Children are especially vulnerable to other people’s smoke, suffering respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, asthma and ear infections as a result. Secondhand smoke causes an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children less than 18 months of age and an estimated 200,000 to 1 million have their asthma symptoms worsened by secondhand smoke annually. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 11 percent of children aged six years and under are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes on a regular basis (four or more days per week).3

Secondhand Smoke Policy Issues in California:

Tobacco Tax Will Help Reduce Secondhand Smoke

• The American Lung Association of California is a sponsor of the Tobacco Tax Act of 2006 that has qualified for the November 2006 ballot. The tobacco tax will increase California’s tobacco tax by an additional $2.60/pack in order to reduce smoking, especially by children and fund key health care priorities.
• The Tobacco Tax will fund comprehensive tobacco prevention programs, including those that will continue the state’s effort to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

Smoke-Free Entryways

• Local municipalities should take action to reduce secondhand smoke exposure in the entrances and exits of local businesses and other buildings not currently covered under state law.
• State law requires a 20-foot smoke-free buffer from all entrances, exits and operable windows of all city, county and state buildings, as well as all buildings on the campuses of the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges.

Smoking in Cars with Children Present

• The American Lung Association of California supports efforts to reduce secondhand smoke exposure experienced by children when riding in cars. The American Lung Association of California supports AB 379 (Koretz, D-West Hollywood), which would prohibit smoking in cars when young children are present.
• The lungs of young children are at higher risk from secondhand smoke because their lungs are still developing physically, and they have higher breathing rates than adults. A finding in the scientific studies produced by the California EPA in support of designating secondhand smoke as a “toxic air pollutant,” showed that average particulate concentrations in vehicles are up to 10 times higher than the average particulate concentrations found in the homes of smokers.
• AB 379 will be up for a vote in the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday June 28.

Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing

• The American Lung Association of California supports tenants having a smoke-free choice when it comes to renting an apartment. Apartment owners and local municipalities need to begin addressing this important issue that affects millions of California renters every year.
• Every renter in the state deserves to live in an apartment that is free from secondhand tobacco smoke, whether it drifts into their apartment from a neighboring apartment, from a common area, or through a shared ventilation system. This is especially true for children with asthma or adults with other lung diseases.

For more information about smoking cessation, call 800.LUNG.USA or visit the American Lung Association's Freedom From Smoking® Online program at www.californialung.org.

National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma and Children’s Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (NSEMA/CEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004.

1. Hawaii’s bill is currently awaiting the governor’s signature. If signed, the bill will take effect November 16, 2006.

2. Colorado’s law takes effect July 1. Montana’s law will take full effect October 1, 2009. Utah’s law will take full effect January 1, 2009. The District of Columbia’s law will take full effect January 1, 2007. Puerto Rico’s law will take effect in March 2007.

3. National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma and Children’s Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (NSEMA/CEE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2004.

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For 100 years, the American Lung Association has been the lead organization working to prevent lung disease and promote lung health. Lung disease death rates continue to increase while other leading causes of death have declined. The American Lung Association funds vital research on the causes of and treatments for lung disease. With the generous support of the public, the American Lung Association is “Improving life, one breath at a time.” For more information about the American Lung Association or to support the work it does, call 1.800.LUNG.USA (1.800.586.4872) or visit www.californialung.org or www.lungusa.org.call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.californialung.org.