Posted July 7, 2008

Smoking bans should filter into homes and cars

On June 13, Pennsylvania joined 32 other states when it passed a clean indoor air law protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke.

“This is a good first step,” said Jennifer Ibrahim, Temple University assistant professor of public health, “but now it is up to individuals and families to make their homes and cars smoke-free too.”

Ibrahim is co-author of a briefing on smoke-free policies and second-hand smoke in the July issue of Lancet Oncology from the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

She and her colleagues reviewed the global body of peer-reviewed published research and government reports regarding the health, economic and social impact of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The group concluded:

Voluntary smoke-free home policies decrease exposure to secondhand smoke for children, as well as decrease adult smoking.

Photo by Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Jennifer Ibrahim

Smoke-free policies reduce exposure to secondhand smoke for children and adults and reduce the prevalence of smoking in adults as well as the risk of heart disease.

Despite arguments to the contrary, there is no evidence anywhere in the world to support claims regarding negative economic consequences of such a policy on the restaurant and bar industries.

Already a few states, including Maine, Massachusetts, and California, ban smoking in a car when a minor is present. Nationwide, there are at least 36 public housing authorities that have smoke-free public housing, following guidelines provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Smoke-free Homes and Cars Program.

Overall, the evidence reviewed in the IARC report demonstrates that there are significant health benefits to reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and that there is good compliance and minimal opposition once a smoke-free policy has been passed.

“It is important to keep in mind that smoke-free policies are not prohibiting smokers from smoking. The policy is intended to protect the public from exposure to secondhand smoke. Period. Smokers may continue to smoke outside,” said Ibrahim.

The full text of the article is available online.

The full IARC report will be released at the World Conference on Tobacco or Health to be held in Mumbai, India in March 2009.

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