Secondhand smoke may lead to lung cancer, COPD and heart disease and worsens existing health conditions including asthma. One of the main conclusions of this standard is that the only way to completely eliminate the health risks from secondhand tobacco smoke in indoor environments is to prohibit smoking activity. In addition, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, an expert organization that sets standards on ventilation in buildings, has had a standard in place on exposure to secondhand smoke for a number of years. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate this exposure.
Surgeon General found that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect people from exposure. This policy will protect the health of workers and customers from dangerous secondhand smoke and e-cigarette emissions, and we call for the permanent adoption of this policy. “We applaud the decision of Casino Arizona and Talking Stick Resort for adopting a smokefree workplace policy as they re-open after COVID-19 forced businesses to shutter.
