COM 0942.111 2006-2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 10, 2008 TO: Council Chairman Pete Hoffmann & Council Members Hawaii County Council FR: Yin Yan Leung, MPH, Health Educator, American Lung Association of Hawaii RE: WRITTEN TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF BILL 224 (in its current form) Relating To Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawaii Second Reading, Public Hearing on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 1 strongly support Bill 224 and commend the County Council for moving this visionary measure forward in its current form. I want Hawaii County to be a clean and healthy place for my family and others to enjoy. Bill 224 will protect my right to breathe clean air at all County of Hawaii parks, beaches and recreational facilities. We can lead by example and be a model for public health for the rest of Hawaii. In a survey of students in a tobacco prevention program of the American Lung Association of Hawaii, 45% of students (out of 1861 respondents) responded that someone living in their home smoked. Clearly, segments of our youth population are exposed much more to smoking behaviors and second-hand smoke than the average resident of Hawaii. Despite progress made in successfully legislating indoor tobacco smoke in workplaces, our keiki continue to be exposed to the hazards of second-hand smoke in public places. Second-hand smoke is a Class-A carcinogen - same as asbestos - there are no safe levels of exposure. Outdoor tobacco smoke has been declared a toxic air pollutant by the California EPA. Scientists have tested the toxicity of outdoor tobacco smoke and have concluded that it is as harmful as indoor second-hand smoke, especially for asthmatic children and adults and those suffering from COPD, like emphysema. These individuals put themselves in harms way every time they visit a public place, and get a whiff of tobacco smoke. It is the responsibility of government to protect the public's health in public places, including parks and beaches. A recent report by the World Health Organization warns that the tobacco epidemic is increasing and will claim 1 billion lives by the end of the 21st century unless government officials take measures to enact strict policies to curb tobacco use and protect against second-hand smoke. Legislation like Bill 224 can decrease our society's rate of premature death and chronic diseases - a burden that our health care system can no longer bear. Also, as a breast cancer survivor, I wonder if my exposure to second-hand smoke was a key factor in my diagnosis, as more and more research is finding that cigarette smoke exposure can lead to breast cancer in pre-menopausal women. This measure will also reduce toxic litter, and send the message that tobacco use is not the norm in our community, so we stop sending keiki mixed messages about tobacco use both in and out of their homes. Children and families deserve clean, healthy places to enjoy outdoor activities without worry from drifting second hand smoke. Visiting our parks, beaches and recreational facilities should be a pleasurable and safe experience for all. Discarded cigarettes and