Press Release

Surgeon General's Report Provides Powerful Support for Proposed Smoke-free Ordinance

Columbia, Mo (June 30, 2006) -- This week, U.S Surgeon General, Richard Carmona, issued a report on the inarguable dangers of secondhand smoke, providing conclusive evidence that the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through smoke-free environments. This report provides powerful support for Columbia's proposed smoke-free workplace ordinance and comes at an opportune time for city, as the Boone County Medical Society has also just announced its support of the smoke-free ordinance.

"Columbia made the decision years ago to make most work places smoke free. The recent surgeon general's report makes clear that for the health of employees, all work places need to be made smoke free," said Tiffany Bowman, member of SAFE (Safe Air For Everyone).

The report entitled The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke is a critical analysis of 20 years of cumulative medical research. The last comprehensive review on the issue was back in 1986; a report that concluded that second hand smoke causes lung cancer in nonsmokers.

In this report, however, the Surgeon General leaves no room for debate, decisively stating that secondhand smoke is much more dangerous that previously thought.

"There is no safe level of exposure to second hand smoke," said Carmona. "Only smoke-free environments effectively protect nonsmokers from second hand smoke exposure in indoor spaces."

Residents of Columbia are currently discussing a proposed ordinance to make workplaces smoke free. This report, along with the recently announced support of the Boone County Medical Society's actions, may be just the push this city needs to get the ball rolling on this extremely crucial societal change.

Domingo Pacheco, a member of PASS (Peers Advocating Smoke-free Solutions), the University sponsored antismoking group, is excited about the report's significance, and what it can do for Columbia.

"The level of support for Columbia's proposed ordinance could not have come from a higher level; the United States Surgeon General has now officially endorsed smoke-free environments and concluded that they are '...proven, simple approaches that prevent exposure and harm'."

In the meantime, the Surgeon General provided suggestions for avoiding secondhand smoke.

• Make your home and car smoke-free.
• Ask people not to smoke around you or your children.
• Make sure that your children's day-care center or school is smoke-free.
• Patronize restaurants and other businesses that are smoke-free.
• Teach children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
• Avoid secondhand smoke exposure especially if you or your children have respiratory conditions, if you have heart disease, or if you are pregnant.

For more information, or if you would like to help support the ordinance, contact Dean Andersen, co-chair of SAFE at 573-529-9704 or through email at: dean.andersen@mchsi.com

To read the U.S. Health and Human Services press release, go to: www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060627.html

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