Public Health and Environment Division
Broomfield Tobacco Prevention and Education: Reducing Secondhand Smoke Exposure
"Secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke, is a combination of the smoke in the air from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a person who is smoking. Secondhand smoke is the number one source of indoor air pollution and contains nearly 5,000 chemical compounds including arsenic, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide as well as radioactive elements. Like asbestos, it has been classified as a "Class A" carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Only 13 other substances are considered as dangerous to human health." -Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
There is no safe level of
exposure to secondhand smoke.
CLICK HERE to learn about the
ONE STEP that protects children from secondhand smoke.
Reasons to Celebrate
Congratulations Colorado! On July 1, 2007, the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act celebrated it's one year anniversary. Our state's smoke-free law continues to help improve public health in Colorado. Secondhand smoke has been shown to cause lung cancer and can be linked to heart disease, both of which kill thousands of nonsmokers every year. After Pueblo went smoke-free in July 2003, heart attack rates dropped by 27 percent in the subsequent 18 months. Since the statewide ordinance passed, other positive results have begun to surface. Recently a study by the State Tobacco Education and Prevention Partnership found that air pollution in hospitality venues, including bars and restaurants, has improved nearly 70 percent since the smoke-free law took effect. Visit www.SmokeFreeColorado.org for more information.
Links:
Colorado Tobacco Education
and Prevention Alliance
Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids