Bill 11-16 Smoke Free Air Standards

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Smoke Free Air Standards Ordinance Page 4 Tobacco residue is noticeably present in dust throughout places where smoking has occurred. (Matt, G.E.; Quintana, P.J.E.; Hovell, M.F.; Bemert, J.T.; Song, S.; Novianfi, N.; Juarez, T.; Floro, J.; Gehrman, C.; Garcia, M.; Larson, S., "Households contaminated by environmental tobacco smoke: sources of infant exposures," Tobacco Control 13(1): 29 -37, March 2004.) Given the rapid sorption and persistence of high levels of residual nicotine from tobacco smoke on indoor surfaces, including clothing and human skin, this recently identified process represents an unappreciated health hazard through dermal exposure, dust inhalation, and ingestion. (Sleiman, M.; Gundel, L.A.; Pankow, J.F.; Jacob III, P.; Singer, B.C.; Destaillats, H., "Formation of carcinogens indoors by surface - mediated reactions of nicotine with nitrous acid, leading to potential thirdhand smoke hazards," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United Sates of America (PNAS) 107(15): 6576 -6581, February 8, 2010.) Unregulated high -tech smoking devices, commonly referred to as electronic cigarettes, or "e- cigarettes," closely resemble and purposefully mimic the act of smoking by having users inhale vaporized liquid nicotine created by heat through an electronic ignition system. After testing a number of e- cigarettes from two leading manufacturers, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that various samples tested contained not only nicotine but also detectable levels of known carcinogens and toxic chemicals, including tobacco - specific nitrosamines and diethylene glycol, a toxic chemical used in antifreeze. The FDA's testing also suggested that "quality control processes used to manufacture these products are inconsistent or non - existent." ([n.a.l, "Summary of results: laboratory analysis of electronic cigarettes conducted by FDA," Food and Drug Administration (FDA), July 22, 2009; http:// www. fda. gov/ NewsEvents/ PublicHealthFocus /ucml73146.htm Accessed on. October 22, 2009.) E- cigarettes produce a vapor of undetermined and potentially harmful substances, which may appear similar to the smoke emitted by traditional tobacco products. Their use in workplaces and public places where smoking of traditional tobacco products is prohibited creates concern and confusion and leads to difficulties in enforcing the smoking prohibitions. During the Summer of 2015, the US Food and Drug Administration held three (3) public workshops to obtain more detailed information on electronic cigarettes and the public health. Currently only e- cigarettes that are marketed for therapeutic purposes are currently regulated by the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). The FDA has issued a proposed rule that would extend its authority to cover e- cigarettes, which is to be acted upon in 2016. The Society of Actuaries has determined that secondhand smoke costs the U.S. economy roughly $10 billion a year: $5 billion in estimated medical costs associated with secondhand smoke exposure and $4.6 billion in lost productivity. (Behan, D.F.; Eriksen, M.P.; Lin, Y., "Economic Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke," Society of Actuaries, March 31, 2005.) Numerous economic analyses examining restaurant and hotel receipts and controlling for economic variables have shown either no difference or a positive economic impact after enactment of laws requiring workplaces to be smoke free. Creation of smoke free workplaces is sound economic policy and provides the maximum level of employee health and safety. (Glantz, S.A. & Smith, L., "The effect of ordinances requiring smokefree restaurants on restaurant sales in the United States." American Journal of Public Health, 87:1687 -1693, 1997; Colman, R.; Urbonas, C.M., "The economic impact of smoke -free workplaces: an assessment for Nova Scotia, prepared for Tobacco Control Unit, Nova Scotia Department of Health," GPI Atlantic, September 2001.)