Lung Association says CDC Report Shows Smokefree Places have Greatly Reduced Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure

1/31/2003

From: Diane Maple of the American Lung Association, 202-785-3355

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 -- Responding to a report issued today by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on public exposure to toxic chemicals in the environment, the American Lung Association notes great progress in reducing exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke.

"The CDC report documents significant reduction since 1994 in the exposure of Americans to secondhand tobacco smoke, as measured by a biological marker of exposure. However, the evidence also shows that there are still too many people, especially children and African Americans, who are being involuntarily exposed to this dangerous toxic soup," said American Lung Association President and Chief Executive Officer John L. Kirkwood. "This report is clear evidence of the success in achieving smokefree restaurants, public buildings and workplaces across the nation, led by the landmark laws established in California in 1994. Since then, we've seen great strides in several states, including most recently Delaware and Florida, and in hundreds of cities across the nation, from New York City to Helena, Montana."

"Unfortunately, this new report also highlights that children and African-Americans are still exposed at twice the levels of non-Hispanic white and Mexican-American adults," noted Kirkwood. "For children, the evidence points to smoking in the home as the chief culprit, while non-Hispanic blacks may work in places less likely to be protected from secondhand smoke, such as bars and restaurants. We need to do more to protect them."

The Lung Association also applauded the expanded scope and data in the report, which will serve as a benchmark for current research and future action. This includes better data on ethnic groups and on 89 additional toxic substances.

"In order to base public health policy decisions on sound science, it is critical that we understand the nature and magnitude of the American public's exposure to toxic chemicals including secondhand smoke," said Kirkwood. "The American Lung Association strongly supports conducting public surveys of exposure to toxic chemicals. This effort should be expanded to included other hazardous chemicals, such as benzene and other toxic compounds that represent a significant risk to the health of the American public."