Alliance for Smoke-Free Workplaces

Secondhand Smoke

What is the Alliance?
The Alliance includes corporations, non-profit organizations, institutions, health care professionals and citizens which support restrictions on smoking inside of public places because of the adverse health effects caused by secondhand smoke and the increased costs incurred by employers and building owners to accommodate smoking indoors.

What does secondhand smoke mean to your health?
As early as 1986, the U.S. Surgeon General concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke (also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS) is a cause of lung cancer. In 1992, the U.S. EPA classified secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen. This designation means that there is sufficient medical evidence that ETS causes cancer. The EPA estimates that approximately 3000 non-smokers die each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke. ETS also is a prevalent cause of ear infections, asthma and lower respiratory tract infections in children. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also causally associated with low birth weight and decreased fetal development. The National Research Council and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health support these conclusions as well. Most recently, for the first time ever, the U.S. Surgeon General has issued the following warning about the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke which will be placed on cigars.

Campaign to pass stricter smoke-free ordinances in Philadelphia
Bill No. 000314, which would extend the applicability of the existing smoke-free law, is pending before the City Council. More information can be found HERE. For those interested in helping the Alliance to get this bill passed, there are a couple of things you can do:

• SIGN-ON as a supporter of the Alliance (PDF format). Then fax the form to the Alliance.
• Send letters to the Mayor and City Councilman/Councilwoman (SEE A SAMPLE)

If you need more information or would like to get more involved, please contact the Alliance at smokefree@cleanair.org