Sen.
Cullerton Introduces Comprehensive
Measure to Make Illinois Smoke-Free
SPRINGFIELD, IL, Jan. 11
Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire
-- Comprehensive legislation that
would make Illinois workplaces and
indoor public places smoke-free has
been introduced by Senator John J. Cullerton (D-6th District). Joining
Senator Cullerton as co-sponsors of
the Smoke-free Illinois Act (SB500)
are Senator Christine Radogno
(R-41st District) and Senator Mattie
Hunter (D-3rd District). In the
House, the legislation is being
sponsored by Rep. Karen Yarbrough
(D-7th District).
"As we
kick off 2007, a smoke-free Illinois
is my New Year's resolution for our
state to protect all Illinois
workers from the serious health
risks related to secondhand smoke
exposure," said Senator Cullerton.
"This measure calls for all indoor
public places and workplaces in
Illinois, including bars, casinos
and restaurants, to be 100 percent
smoke-free," he said.
A
diverse group consisting of more
than 400 organizations, including
the Illinois Coalition Against
Tobacco, American Lung Association,
American Heart Association, American
Cancer Society, the Illinois Academy
of Family Physicians and the
Illinois Public Health Association,
applauded Sen. Cullerton for
introducing legislation to make
Illinois the next smoke-free state.
"The
U.S. Surgeon General's June 2006
report concluded that there is no
safe level of exposure to secondhand
smoke," said Diana Hackbarth, R.N.,
Ph.D., and chair, Illinois Coalition
Against Tobacco (ICAT). "Senator
Cullerton is leading the charge in
the General Assembly to protect all
Illinois workers with a
comprehensive clean indoor air law."
"It's
clear that a growing number of
elected officials in Illinois and
throughout the country are realizing
that smoke-free laws are a very
effective tool to protect public
health -- and particularly the
health of workers," said
Representative Yarbrough.
Hospitality
Workers at Greatest Risk
Research
shows that workers exposed to
secondhand smoke on a daily basis
are 20-30 percent more likely to
develop cancer than other workers.
In fact, working one eight-hour
shift in a smoky workplace is
equivalent to smoking 16 cigarettes.
"Restaurant, bar and hospitality
workers are exposed to the highest
levels of secondhand smoke of any
occupational or demographic group
and they should not have to risk
their health for a paycheck," said
Cullerton. "And according to
the Surgeon General's report,
establishing smoke-free workplaces
is the only effective way to
eliminate secondhand smoke in the
workplace," he said.
Many
businesses -- particularly
restaurants and bars -- recognize
the benefits of stronger clean
indoor air laws, which include fewer
employee sick days, reduced
insurance costs and in many cases,
revenue increases. Yet of the
nation's 6.6 million food
preparation and service occupation
workers, only 43 percent have the
benefit of smoke-free workplaces,
while more than 75 percent of the
nation's white collar workers are
protected by smoke-free policies.
Additionally, the British Medical
Journal published a study in June
2004 that found that the risks of
secondhand smoke exposure are much
worse than previously thought:
exposure can increase the risk of
coronary heart disease by 50-60
percent, twice the previous
estimated risk.
Illinois
Poised to Join Nationwide Trend
Since
the General Assembly allowed local
municipalities to adopt clean indoor
air laws, communities throughout
Illinois have moved quickly to
protect public health and eliminate
secondhand smoke from all indoor
public places and workplaces. As of
Jan. 2, 38 communities will have
enacted smoke-free laws and by March
15, another four communities will
implement new smoke free laws.
"While
more than 42 communities throughout
Illinois are now smoke-free, more
than half of Illinois workers and
residents remain exposed to the
dangerous chemicals found in
secondhand smoke," said Joel Africk,
president, American Lung Association
of Metropolitan Chicago. "This
involuntary exposure to secondhand
smoke is a public health crisis
affecting people with existing lung
diseases such as asthma and
emphysema," he said. Africk also
noted that in its recent State of
Tobacco Control Report Card (2006),
a national report that evaluates
federal and state tobacco control
laws, the American Lung Association
gave the state of Illinois an "F"
grade on smoke-free air.
Today,
16 states (compared to just two
states four years ago) and hundreds
of municipalities nationwide have
already passed comprehensive
smoke-free workplace laws. Elected
officials throughout the country
acknowledge that voters want and
support smoke-free laws to protect
public health.
"It's
time to stop the needless suffering
and devastation caused bysecondhand
smoke by giving everyone the right
to breathe clean air," said Clement
Rose, M.D., president of the
American Cancer Society, Illinois
Division. "Backed by thousands of
American Cancer Society volunteers
and coalition partners, we will not
rest until all of Illinois can enjoy
a comprehensive, smoke-free policy
that is proven to reduce cancer.
Right now, Illinois is playing catch
up on this critical public health
concern -- and real lives are at
stake," he said.
Well-known
Dangers of Secondhand Smoke
"In
response to the national trend to
enact statewide, comprehensive clean
indoor air laws, the Illinois
Coalition Against Tobacco formed its
Smokefree Illinois Campaign," said
Harold P. Wimmer, President and CEO,
American Lung Association of
Illinois. "With more than 400
organizations signed on, we
represent state and local social
service agencies, medical
associations, public health
associations and health
departments," said Wimmer.
The
health effects of secondhand smoke
exposure are well documented:
--
Adults exposed to secondhand smoke
have 25-35 percent higher coronary
death rates
--
Children exposed to secondhand smoke
have higher rates of respiratory
infections and irritations and
exposure to secondhand smoke
increases the number and severity of
asthma attacks in children and
adults
-- In Illinois, eight people die
from exposure to secondhand smoke
each and every day
"We know
there is a correlation between
smoke-free laws and the rate of
heart attacks," said Joni Clark,
M.D., American Heart Association,
Sangamon County Board of Directors.
"A study conducted in Sept. 2001 in
Helena, Montana showed that during
the six months the city had a
smoke-free ordinance, the rate of
heart attacks in the Helena area
declined by 40 percent. When the law
was suspended, the rate of heart
attacks increased.
"It is
clear from the experience of other
states, that a clean indoor air law
that protects everyone from
secondhand smoke has positive health
and economic results," said Sen.
Cullerton. "It is time for the
Illinois General Assembly to move on
this important public health issue,"
he said.
NOTE:
For more information on the Surgeon
General's report or the effects of
secondhand smoke, visit
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke
or
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco
SOURCE: The Office of Senator John
Cullerton
