Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: New York City Sets Example For the Nation By Protecting The Public's Right to Breathe Smoke-Free Air

12/30/2002

From: Nicole Dueffert of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids 202-296-5469

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 -- The following is a statement of William V. Corr, executive vice president, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

In signing into law one of the nation's strongest smoke-free workplace laws today, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has acted decisively to protect the public's right to breathe clean, smoke-free air. New York City's new law will improve health and save lives by reducing the exposure of all workers and customers to the poisons in secondhand smoke. As a result, millions of New York residents, workers, and visitors will be able to earn a living, enjoy a meal and share a drink with friends without being exposed to this serious health hazard. As the apple drops for a new year, New Yorkers should enjoy a well-deserved toast to better health that will result from the city's new smoke-free law. We commend Mayor Bloomberg for his leadership and persistence in advocating this important public health measure and the City Council for enacting it into law.

The New York law reflects the strong public support for the right to breathe clean air and growing public demand for protection from secondhand smoke. In November's election, 71 percent of Florida voters supported a ban on smoking in restaurants and other indoor workplaces. Earlier this year, Delaware became the second state after California to enact comprehensive protections. Numerous cities, towns and counties across the United States have done so as well, including Boston where the Public Health Commission earlier this month unanimously approved a comprehensive ban on smoking in all public indoor workplaces. Other cities that are currently considering such measures, including Chicago, Dallas and Albuquerque, should quickly follow the lead of New York and Boston and protect the rights of their citizens to breathe clean air.

City leaders did the right thing to improve public health. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals and 69 known carcinogens including formaldehyde, cyanide, arsenic, carbon monoxide, methane, benzene, and radioactive polonium 210. A recent study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organization concluded, "Nonsmokers are exposed to the same carcinogens as active smokers. Even the typical levels of passive exposure have been shown to cause lung cancer" among people who have never smoked. In addition to lung cancer, secondhand smoke is proven to cause heart disease, emphysema, and other illnesses and is responsible nationally for thousands of deaths each year. Studies show that kids are especially vulnerable to other people's smoke, suffering more respiratory problems, ear infections, and asthma.

Smoke-free air laws are good for the economy and business. Despite the tobacco industry's false claims that these measures can hurt business, the facts show that smoke-free laws do no harm, and can even improve business. One comprehensive study of restaurant sales tax data from 81 localities in six states found consistently that ordinances restricting smoking in restaurants had no effect on revenues. In addition, such laws, where enacted, reduce health care costs attributable to treating illnesses caused by secondhand smoke. A 1994 federal study showed, for example, that a ban on smoking in public places would save $72 billion, lower insurance costs, and increase job productivity.

We commend New York's leaders for standing up for the public's right to breathe clean air.