Knoxville, TN — August 1, 2018 —Today, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville joined universities across the state in going smoke-free. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) commends the university for taking this important step to protect its staff, students and visitors from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
“We thank UT Knoxville policymakers for protecting current UT students and future generations from the dangers of secondhand smoke,” said Emily Ogden, ACS CAN Tennessee government relations director. “UT campuses are meant to help Tennessee’s future generations learn and grow, not foster potentially deadly tobacco addictions.”
Last year, the state legislature passed legislation that was sponsored by Senator Briggs and Representative Harry Brooks that allowed state colleges and universities to implement smoke-free policies. ACS CAN commends the legislature for implementing this important law and UT Knoxville for seizing the opportunity. Each year in the United States, secondhand smoke causes approximately 42,000 deaths among nonsmokers, including up to 7,300 lung cancer deaths.
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and secondhand smoke exposure causes many serious health issues, including cancer. An estimated 32.9 percent of all cancer deaths in Tennessee are caused by tobacco. There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure.
About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
###