Vol. 3, No. 17
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July 1, 2006
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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Nevada Smoking Referendum Gets Some Big Time Help
Surgeon General Releases Information On Second Hand Smoke Dangers
The Clean Indoor Air Act that will appear on the November ballot got a high level boost recently when the Surgeon General of the United States issued a report on second hand smoke and the health dangers that it creates. Michael Hackett, campaign manager promoting the initiative said, "the Report reaffirms what the act is saying." The initiative would prohibit smoking in most indoor public places, primarily where children are allowed.
Surgeon General Richard Carmona released his report on the effects of secondhand smoke, the first update since 1986. Called the Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Secondhand Smoke, the report in its entirety can be found at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov. "The scientific evidence is now indisputable," said Dr. Carmona.
General Carmona continued, citing specifics from his report, "Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance, but a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and non-smoking adults." The Surgeon General continued, "Diseases caused by secondhand smoke are among the most easily prevented." Among the report's new findings: there is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure and even brief exposure can have an immediate adverse effect on a non-smoker's health. Further, the report says it found even the most sophisticated ventilation systems cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.
Getting into what some claim is the only good reason to allow smoking in public, the economics of smokers on business the report specifically says "that smoke-free policies and regulations do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry." In Nevada the fear of casinos not allowing smoking, the fear of sports bars not allowing smoking, is driving the opposition to the Clean Indoor Air Act referendum.
Representatives from Nevadans for Tobacco-Free Kids and those supporting the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act say it wasn't surprising "that smoke-free laws do not economically harm hospitality-based businesses. All the research we've examined," they say, "came to the same conclusion: these laws have a positive impact on sales, profits, tax receipts, patronage, and employment.
Hackett said the finding on air filtration systems is not surprising. "It's consistent with the position of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers, which in 2005 officially recognized the limitation of engineering approaches to protecting non-smokers from secondhand smoke." Hackett said both reports agree that establishing smoke-free environments is the only proven way to prevent illness from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Voters will find a second smoking initiative on the November ballot, backed by the gaming and tourist industry in the state. Called the Responsibly Protect Nevadans from Second-Hand Smoke Act, backers say they only support some of the findings of the Surgeon General.
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