Name County Public Meeting

1
Name County Public Meeting

• To gather citizen input on the need for and scope
  of a law to protect the public in Name County
  from the health dangers of secondhand smoke.

2
Secondhand Smoke
is a mixture of smoke given off by the burning
end of a cigarette,pipe, or cigar, and the smoke
exhaled from the lungs of smokers
3
Why is Name County considering a Clean Indoor
Air Regulation?

• On date, the fill in Committee of the County
  Commissioners directed the Health Officer to
  schedule a series of public forums and then
  submit to the Commissioners a recommendation on
  how to protect citizens from the health dangers
  of secondhand smoke.

4
Why are Name County officials concerned about
secondhand smoke in workplaces and public places?
5
Secondhand Smoke ...

• Is a Group A carcinogen -- a substance known to
  cause cancer in humans for which there is no safe
  level of exposure. National Institute for
  Environmental Health Sciences Report, issued May
  15, 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  report, issued July, 1993.
• At least 38,000 to 65,000 deaths annually in U.S.
  result from secondhand smoke-caused diseases.
  U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention,
  April 12, 2002 report and National Institute for
  Environmental Health Sciences Report, May 15,
  2000.
• Thousands more people suffer from chronic
  debilitating conditions caused by these diseases,
  including the effects of emphysema, cancer, heart
  disease, stroke, chronic bronchitis, and asthma.
  California Environmental Protection Agency report
  Health Effects of Exposure to Environmental
  Tobacco Smoke, September, 1997.

6
Secondhand Smoke ...
Contains over 4,000 compounds -- more than 40
of which are Group A carcinogens which cause
cancer in humans or animals. Includes ammonia,
arsenic, benzene, cadmium, carbon monoxide,
chromium VI, DDT, formaldehyde, hydrogen
cyanide, lead, nickel, N-nitrosamines, sulfur
dioxide, vinyl chloride. Also includes pesticide
residues. International Agency for Research on
Cancer chart, 1986 U.S. Surgeon Generals
Report of 1989 California EPA Report, September,
1997.
7
Secondhand Smoke ...
Causes lung and other cancers, and heart
disease. Is responsible for respiratory
tract infections, such as pneumonia and
bronchitis, especially in infants, children and
older persons. Increases risk of sudden
infant death syndrome (SIDS) and middle ear
infections in children. Is a major health
threat to persons with asthma -- sometimes
fatal. American College of Occupational
Environmental Medicine position statement, July
30, 2000 California EPA report, September,
1997.
8
Secondhand Smoke ...

• Causes burning of the eyes, nose, and throat
  headaches increases in the heart rate and blood
  pressure and upsets the stomach.
• Nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to
  secondhand smoke at home or work have almost
  double the risks of heart disease.
• Causes 30 times as many lung cancer deaths as
  all regulated air pollutants combined.
• U.S. Surgeon Generals report, 1986 American
  Heart Association.

9
What is the source of all this data on secondhand
smoke?

• Hundreds of scientific studies conducted
  worldwide with professional peer reviews to
  assure their validity.
• Reports from governmental agencies around the
  globe, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, New
  Zealand, Japan, Great Britain, the European
  Union, etc.
• Rigorous reviews of the scientific studies,
  including by the following
• California Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Canadian Clearinghouse on Tobacco Health
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prevention
• National Institute for Occupational Safety
  Health (NIOSH)

10
Thus, from a health perspective, the debate is
over -- secondhand smoke is a serious health
danger to persons of all ages, especially
infants, children and older persons with
respiratory problems.
11
As a result, the Name County Commissioners are
concerned about protecting the public --
employees, employers and citizens of all ages --
from the health dangers of secondhand smoke in
worksites and public places.
12
Therefore, the County Health Officer has been
directed to develop recommendations for the
Name County Commissioners to protect the public
from secondhand smoke.
13
Among the recommendations under consideration is
the enactment by the County Commissioners in 2002
of a countywide regulation which would do one or
more of the following
14
Make almost all indoor public places smoke-free,
including

• All county and municipal buildings and vehicles
• All indoor sports and convention facilities
• Museums, theaters, entertainment venues
• Retail stores, banks, laundromats and businesses
  open to the public
• Educational facilities
• Community centers, homeless shelters
• Health clubs open to the public, bowling alleys,
  indoor public swimming pools, etc.
• Common areas of hotels, motels, apartments,
  office buildings, malls, retirement facilities,
  etc.

15
Make almost all indoor worksites smoke-free,
including

• All professional offices, medical and dental
  clinics, health care facilities, law offices,
  etc.
• All for-profit and non-profit businesses,
  corporations, factories, and related worksites
• Any worksites or portions thereof under the
  control of a private or public employer which
  employees use during the course of their work
  (except those in a private residence, unless it
  is used as a child care, adult day care or health
  care facility).

16
Restrict smoking in restaurants, as follows

• Require at least 80 of the seating to be in a
  smoke-free area of the facility.
• Require the smoke-free area to be completely free
  of secondhand smoke.
• Enable employees to freely make their own choice
  about whether they must work in the smoking area
  of the facility, without fear of retaliation.
• Reaffirm the current right of the owner to make
  the entire restaurant smoke-free, if that is
  her/his choice.

17
Restrict smoking in bars, as follows

• Require at least 80 of the seating to be in a
  smoke-free area of the facility.
• Require the smoke-free area to be completely free
  of secondhand smoke.
• Enable employees to freely make their own choice
  about whether they must work in the smoking area
  of the facility, without fear of retaliation.
• Reaffirm the current right of the owner to make
  the entire bar smoke-free, if that is her/his
  choice.

18
Why are restaurants bars being treated
differently than other worksites?

• While restaurants and bars are clearly worksites,
  there is a state law which the Michigan Appeals
  Court has ruled prohibits counties and
  municipalities from totally prohibiting smoking
  in restaurants and bars.
• However, that same court decision says that
  counties and municipalities can regulate smoking
  in restaurants and bars so that smoking is
  restricted to certain areas of the facilities.
• For smoking to be prohibited entirely in
  restaurants and bars will require a change in the
  state law to be made by the state legislature and
  governor.

19
In developing the recommendations for the County
Commissioners, the Health Officer has been asked
to gather input from the public. This meeting is
one of a number called for this purpose.

• The floor is now open for your comments.

20
For more information about secondhand smoke and
smoke-free regulations, you may visit the
following web sites

• www.tcsg.org/sfelp/home.htm
• www.cdc.gov/tobacco
• www.lungusa.org
• www.americanheart.org
• www.cancer.org