| Introduction |
For
years numerous studies have pointed to the harm associated
with using tobacco.
There have been thousands of studies that link tobacco
use to premature death and
illnesses in thousands of Americans. Over
400,000 deaths in
the U.S. annually are 
linked to tobacco use.
Second hand smoke is a mixture of smoke
given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or
cigar, and the smoke
exhaled from the lungs of smokers. This mixture contains
more than 4,000 substances, more than 40 of
which are
know to cause cancer in humans or animals and many
of which are strong irritants (U.S. Environmental
Protection
Agency, 1993) In more recent years there has
been a
focus on determining what impact exposure to environmental
tobacco smoke (or second hand smoke as it
is sometimes
called) has. As a result, it has become increasingly
clear that exposure to ETS is also linked to
a significant number of health
problems.
In fact, one study states that 53,000 Americans
lose their lives each year as a result of
exposure to second hand smoke. This makes
second-hand smoke the third leading cause
of preventable death. Only direct tobacco use and alcohol-related
deaths account for more
preventable deaths in the U.S. (Glantz and Parmley,
1995).
Information in this
section is included to help the reader better understand
the health
and economic impact of exposure to second hand
smoke (also commonly known as ETS).
It is hoped that by providing this type of
information that employers, employees, visitors,
and customers will better understand why it
is necessary to take steps to prevent second
hand smoke exposure whenever it is feasible to do so.
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|
General
Health Effects
Basic overview of key health effects of secondhand
smoke. |
|
Bibliography
of Secondhand Smoke Studies
An extensive bibliography of over 300 studies on the health
impact of secondhand smoke compiled by the Americans for
Nonsmoker's Rights. |
|
Economic
Impact of Secondhand Smoke (SHS)
Reviews some of the economic effects of secondhand
smoke. |
|
Useful
Resources for Businesses, Government, and Other Organizations
Identifies additional resources to help implement
and maintain effective smoking policies.
|
| General
Health Effects of SHS |
Since
the early 1970s the number of studies conducted about
second hand smoke
and environmental tobacco smoke have increased
dramatically. Study after study links
exposure to ETS with both major and minor health
problems. Unlike some substances,
there is no "safe" level of exposure to second
hand smoke (Health Advocate Magazine,
1996). Young children are particularly susceptible
to ETS. Since many customers and
employees bring their children to businesses
it is important to understand the potential
health impact of second hand smoke exposure on children.
Health problems associated
with second hand smoke include:
|
 |
Lung
cancer |
|
Higher
death rates from cardiovascular disease in non-smokers |
|
Acute
symptoms from the irritant effect, particularly eye irritation,
among allergic
persons |
|
Headaches |
|
Irritation
of the eye, nose and throat |
|
Dizziness
or nausea in nonsmokers |
|
150,000-300,000
lower respiratory infections in children |
|
200,000-1,000,000
asthma attacks in children |
|
8,000-26,000
new cases of asthma in children |
|
Respiratory
symptoms of irritation in children |
|
Significantly
reduced lung function in children
|
| |
Source:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1993, 1997; Canadian
Health Network |
| |
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|
| Economic
Impact of SHS |
While
the major focus on the effects of tobacco has been on
the health impact,
environmental tobacco smoke also has been associated
with a number of economic
impacts on businesses. While some are direct,
there are a number of impacts that are
indirect. Poor employee morale, for example, can
cause decreases in productivity.
Economic impacts include:
|
|
Absenteeism
at greater rates than non or ex-smoking employees |
|
Higher
health insurance and life insurance costs and claims |
|
Workers
compensation payments |
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Accidents
and fires |
|
Property
damage |
|
Smoke
pollution resulting in increased cleaning and maintenance
costs |
|
Illness
and discomfort in non-smokers exposed to passive smoke |
|
Lost
productivity |
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Recruitment
and retraining costs for replacement employees |
|
Employee
morale problems |
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Corporate
image problems- 85 % of Utahns do not smoke
|
| |
Source:
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and
Health, 1996; BRFSS, 1999.
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|
Useful
Resources for Businesses, Government, and Other Organizations
|
|
Utah
Indoor Clean Air Act Compliance Checklist |
|
Utah
Indoor Clean Air Act Statute and Rule |
|
Signs
and Public Announcements
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