Washington, D.C. - A new report from the Centers for Disease Control Office of Smoking and Health highlights the ongoing struggle to protect Americans from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure in public and at work.
The report examines the number of state and local smoke-free air laws passed between 2010-2016. In total, 27 states and the District of Columbia have smoke-free air laws, including inside bars and restaurants, 14 states without statewide laws have numerous local ordinances, and nine states prohibit local ordinances and offer workers no smoke-free protections.
In addition, the report also addresses ongoing efforts to include casinos and electronic nicotine delivery devices in smoke-free air laws.
In response to the report, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network issued the following statement:
The reality that so many Americans continue to be exposed to the proven, cancer-causing dangers of secondhand smoke while at work is alarming. There is no reason anyone should have to choose between their health and their paycheck.
ACS CAN will continue to work with state and local lawmakers to pass strong, smoke-free air laws that protect all workers--no matter where they work--from the significant health effects of secondhand smoke. Progress on both the state and local level must continue if we are going to reduce our country 's tobacco burden and save lives from tobacco-related cancer.
This year is the 10-year anniversary of the Surgeon General 's declaration that there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure.
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CONTACT: Allison Miller or Jill Courtney
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 585-3241 or (202) 585-3278
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]