Health District Board Supports Smoke-free Resolution

Health District Board Supports Smoke-free Resolution

Champaign-Urbana and Champaign County Public Health United on Support

“A healthy workplace is an essential part of the public health equation.”

-- Dave King, Public Health Administrator

Champaign, IL – The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District’s Board of Health has voted to sign a resolution supporting the prohibition of smoking in public places and in places of employment in Champaign and Urbana. The Champaign County Board of Health also supports the resolution.

“Both boards of health are united on their support of any initiative to prevent disease and protect public health. That is our mission,” said Dave King, Public Health Administrator.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has found that second-hand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels in businesses, even with the most sophisticated ventilation systems. Workers in smoke-filled businesses are at a greater risk for heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, cancer and respiratory disease. Patrons of such businesses may also suffer the ill effects of exposure to second-hand smoke.

“A healthy workplace is an essential part of the public health equation,” said Mr. King.

The text of the resolution, sponsored by the C-U Smokefree Alliance, is provided below.

Resolution to Eliminate Secondhand Smoke in Public Places

Whereas, the U.S. Surgeon General has determined that simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space does not eliminate the exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Whereas, numerous studies have found that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution, and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease in healthy nonsmokers, including heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and lung cancer. The National Cancer Institute determined in 1999 that secondhand smoke is responsible for the early deaths of 65,000 Americans annually.

Whereas, the Environmental Protection Agency has determined that secondhand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels in businesses by high rates of ventilation. Air cleaners, which are capable of filtering the particulate matter and odors in smoke, do not eliminate the known 5,000 chemicals - including arsenic, cyanide and formaldehyde and other toxins - in secondhand smoke.

Whereas, employees who work in smoke-filled businesses suffer a 25-50% higher risk of heart attack and higher rates of death from cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as increased acute respiratory disease and measurable decrease in lung function.

Whereas, smoke-filled workplaces result in higher worker absenteeism due to respiratory disease, lower productivity, higher cleaning and maintenance costs, increased health insurance rates, and increased liability claims for diseases related to exposure to secondhand smoke.

Whereas, there is conclusive proof that smokefree air laws do not have adverse economic consequences for businesses subject to them; moreover, there is much evidence that smokefree air laws have a positive economic effect on those businesses.

Be it therefore resolved, that the undersigned organization endorses the C-U Smokefree Campaign, which will work to:

• Protect the public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in public places and places of employment

• Guarantee the right of nonsmokers to breathe smoke-free air. Be it therefore resolved, that the undersigned organization will:

• Inform its members and the general public of its endorsement of this Resolution

• Inform local elected officials of its endorsement and urge its members to do the same.

  Champaign-Urbana Public Health District

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Download 2005-06-20-Smokefree-Resolution-PR