HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1091.016 2012-2014PIPSMIC
Murashige, Laura
From: deGracia, Daniel P. <Daniel.P.deGracia @doh.hawaii.gov>
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 11:37 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony submission for Bill 302, PSMT Oct. 14 2pm Agenda
Attachments: Hawaii County Bill 302 t.pdf
Attached to this e-mail in Adobe PDF format is the official written testimony of the Director of the Hawaii State
Department of Health, Dr. Linda Rosen for Bill 302's October 14, 2pm Agenda with the Committee on Public Safety and
Mass Transit.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at 586 -1432.
Very sincerely,
Danny de Gracia, ThD, D.Min, MA
® o
Tobacco Prevention and Education Program
=C?
Hawaii State Department of Health
1250 Punchbowl Street #217
Honolulu, HI 96813
w
Tel: (808) 586 - 1432
=='
Fax: (808) 586 -8252
E -mail: Daniel. P.deGracia @doh.hawaii.Rov
http: / /health.hawaii.gov /tobacco
1
Comm. N t oQ I.
Ref. To: M I L
ROE DateDCT 14 2014
6 O C M
NEIL ABERCROMBIE LINDA ROSEN, M.D., M.P.H.
GOVERNOR OF HAWAII +
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH
841. ®.gp.W6�
STATE OF HAWAII
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
P.O. Box 3378 In reply, please refer to:
File:
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96801 -3378
COUNTY OF HAWAII
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY AND MASS TRANSIT
BILL 302, RELATING TO AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 OF
THE HAWAII COUNTY CODE 1983 (2005 EDITION, AS AMENDED),
RELATING TO PROHIBITION OF SMOKING IN CERTAIN PLACES AND
THE USE OF ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICES
Testimony of Linda Rosen, M.D., M.P.H.
Director of Health
October 14, 2014
2:00 p.m.
1 Department's Position: The DOH strongly supports Hawaii County Bill 302 which prohibits
2 the use of electronic smoking devices (ESD) in enclosed and partially enclosed public places and
3 places of employment where smoking is illegal.
4 Fiscal Implications: None.
5 Purpose and Justification: This measure proposes to amend Chapter 14, Article 4 of the
6 Hawaii County Code to expand its clean air protections to include the prohibition of ESDs in
7 places where smoking is currently prohibited.
8 ESDs have become increasingly prevalent and widely available since their introduction to
9 the U.S. market in 2007. ESDs produce an aerosol containing several carcinogens, such as
10 formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, lead, nickel, chromium 1, 2,3 and other hazardous substances cited by
IState of California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment Safe Drinking Water and Toxic
Enforcement Act of 1986. (2013). Chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Available at:
hir71: 5 list ;rlcs %PbSsin,lE�0913 /3.}���i
2German Cancer Research Center. (2013). Red Series Tobacco Prevention and Tobacco Control Volume 19: Electronic Cigarettes - An
Overview. Available at: 19_ecigaretres_ an overvieiv.p4l'
3Goniewicz, M. et al. (2013). Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes. Tob. Control. 1:1 -8. Available at:
ii�u ;7 656
Bill 302
Page 2 of 3
1 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) which are associated with a
2 range of negative health effects such as skin, eye, and respiratory irritation.
3 They are advertised as technologically advanced and "healthier alternatives" to cigarettes
4 that claim to promote cessation. These devices present a compelling introduction to the
5 sensation of smoking by allowing users, not only to mimic the tactile experience of smoking, but
6 also actually appear to blow smoke (which is referred to as vapor). ESD companies and their
7 mainly parent tobacco companies encourage their use "anywhere," and promote their social
8 acceptability. However, the use of ESDs in existing smoke -free locations threatens to undermine
9 compliance with smoking regulations, creates disturbances which impede employee
10 performance, confuses the public, and reverses the progress that has been made in establishing a
11 social norm that smoking is not permitted in public places or places of employment.
12 The FDA does not have the authority to regulate where ESDs are used; that is the domain
13 of state and local governments. New Jersey, North Dakota, and Utah have state laws restricting
14 electronic smoking device use in 100% smoke -free venues as well as 226 municipalities across
15 the U.S. In January 2014, the DOH adopted its own internal policy banning ESD use on all
16 DOH properties and occupied premises. As of September 2014, the State Department of
17 Accounting and General Services (DAGS) further prohibits ESD use in and around all state
18 buildings under its jurisdiction.
19 The DOH strongly supports this measure. Prohibiting ESD use in enclosed or partially
20 enclosed places where smoking is prohibited will reduce the likelihood that employees and the
21 public will associate the use of such devices with healthful behavior, reduce the likelihood of
22 nonuser exposure to exhaled toxicants and carcinogens, reduce the likelihood of workplace
23 disturbances, enhance employee productivity, and help ensure compliance with existing smoking
24 regulations.
Bill 302
Page 3 of 3
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.