Washington State Pushes for Smoking Ban [08/26-3]
Excerpts from: Getting Involved: Push is on to extend bans on smoking
Seattle
PI.Com [08/25/03]
Secondhand smoke can be more than just irritating. According to the American
Cancer Society, secondhand smoke kills more than 1,000 people prematurely in
Washington state every year.
Across the country, about 53,000 people die annually from secondhand smoke,
making it the third-leading cause of preventable death, according to the state
Department of Health.
The Washington Breathe Alliance was created in partnership with the American
Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Washington,
Washington Asian Pacific Islander Families Against Substance Abuse and the Center
for MultiCultural Health.
The alliance's mission is to change public policy to ensure clean indoor air
for all communities in Washington state.
A number of Washington laws and regulations, including the Washington Clean
Indoor Air Act of 1985, prohibit or limit smoking in offices, state facilities
and vehicles, and other public places.
However, many businesses and public areas are exempted from these regulations.
The alliance would like the Legislature to consider several bills that would
amend the Washington Clean Indoor Air Act to ban smoking in all public indoor
spaces statewide or give local governments the right to set their own clean
indoor air standards.
According to a poll commissioned by the alliance, 71 percent of Washington
voters consider secondhand smoke exposure a serious health risk.
This information is presented as a public service by:
Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
2013 H Street NW / Washington, DC 20006 / (202) 659-4310
A national nonprofit, scientific and educational organization founded in 1967.
All donations are fully tax deductible.
Material on this page may be freely reproduced, distributed, and circulated
with attribution given to Action on Smoking and Health.
Dedicated to Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wells