Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0013.302 2002-2004 r18 ~~H1 A 1B6p 1 LINDA LINGLE a CHIYOME L. FUKINO, M.D. GOVERNOR ~ OIREGTOR OF HEALTH STATE OF HAWAIIO$ JUL Z2 P~1 1 50 DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH P.o. eoxsls COUP; ~ CLEfiK HILO, HAWAII 96721-0916 COUNTY ~ ii= HAWAII Hawaii County Council County of Hawaii Bill for an Ordinance to Amend Chapter 14, (General Welfare) of the Hawaii County Code 1983 (1995 Edition), As Amended, Relating to Smoking in Certain Places in the County of Hawaii Testimony of Karleen K. Yoshioka Hawaii District Health Officer July 23, 2003 The Hawaii District Health Office supports a bill which would provide protections for all employees and the general public from the hazardous effects of second hand smoke (SHS). The Hawaii District Health Office recognizes the serious public health implications caused by involuntary exposure to individuals, both employees and to patrons, from SHS. The Hawaii District Health Office further recognizes the need to increase and expand the public health protections to improve indoor air quality in all workplaces. Results of the Department of Health 2001 statewide Adult Tobacco Survey indicate that eight in ten adults in both East and West Hawaii would strongly support a county law protecting non-smoking employees in the workplace. Seventy percent (70%) would support smoke free restaurants. Eighty percent (80%) of those who support said it would make no difference in how often they would eat out. Seventy percent (70%) agree that smoking should not be allowed in indoor work areas. Eighty one percent (81 would favor a county ordinance. Ceinni ~ Ref. To; iPr~se~ep h~f, pate Tobacco use affects everyone. Secondhand smoke is a major preventable cause of disease and death. Every time someone lights a cigarette near you they are potentially harming your health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified secondhand smoke as a Class A carcinogen, the same cancer causing agent as asbestos and benzene. Nationally, secondhand smoke is responsible for 53,000 deaths annually. Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the frequency of episodes and severity of symptoms in asthmatic children and adults. Exposure to secondhand smoke is three to five times as great in restaurants as compazed to the typical workplace without smoking restrictions. Waiters and waitresses are one and a half to two times as likely to die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke that most other workers. JAMA, 1993. Restaurants that have separate smoking and nonsmoking sections cannot eliminate exposure to the toxins from secondhand smoke. CDC, 1993. The EPA has determined that second hand smoke cannot be reduced to safe levels in businesses by high rates of ventilation; therefore air cleaners, which are only capable of filtering the particulate matter and odors in smoke, do not eliminate the known toxins in secondhand smoke. Numerous scientific studies based on restaurant sales tax receipts prove that smoke-free restaurant ordinances have no negative effect on restaurant sales. Over 400 municipalities across the country, now including Honolulu, Maui and most recently Kauai have successfully enacted clean indoor air ordinances to eliminate smoking in restaurants. The Hawaii District Health Office commends the Hawaii County Council for developing a comprehensive bill to create a high community standard for the people of Hawaii County. We encourage passage of a bill that will provide significant public health protections to improve indoor air quality in all workplaces which would advance the Hawaii County Council's record of promoting and protecting the public's health in moving Hawaii forward toward becoming the "The Health State." Thank you for this opportunity to testify.