HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1091.119 2012-2014Murashiqe, Laura
From: Helen Barrow <hbarrow@hawaii.edu>
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 8:54 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
E
To: County Council Chair DruKanuha and Hawaii County Council Members
r1
Re: Strong Support for Bill 302, Relating to Electronic Smoking Devices
C_
Hrg: Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 9:00 am at the West Hawaii Civic Center in Kailua-Kona
Mahalo nui loa for the opportunity to submit testimony in strong support of Bill 302. 1 strongly support prohibiting the
use of Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD), also known as electronic cigarettes or e -cigarettes, in places open to the public
and places of employment.
I support including "electronic smoking devices" in the definition of "tobacco product" and "smoke or smoking" in the
County of Hawai'i, and to prohibit the use of ESD in the places where smoking is prohibited. Including ESD will protect
the public, reduce confusion within society, decrease distractions in the workplace, and maintain the social norm.
Recent news coverage of the youth tobacco survey showed dramatic increase in youth using ESD in Hawaii. The social
norming around ESD and the claims that these products are harmless contribute to high youth rates.
ESD are currently unregulated and emit unregulated levels of chemicals into the air. Please see the NYTimes.com article
and video that speak to this health hazard. Evidence is clear that electronic smoking devices do not just emit harmless
water vapor, but a hazardous aerosol that contains nicotine, ultra -fine particles and toxins known to cause cancer.The
most alarming ingredient to me is "tin whiskers" that are carried on the cloud of smoke that travel deep into people's
Iungs.Yikes!! I urge you to pass Bill 302 in order to provide protection for the public. Failing to act may set us back
decades. Mahalo nui loa for your kokua in protecting our keiki and their keiki as well.
Mahalo
Helen Barrow
Po Box 822
Makawao, HI 96768
Comm. pNo IogI.
Ref. To: l
Ref. Date DEC 1 77Qj4