Tobacco.org

• Cigarette packaging war gets dirty 

Health Minister Nicola Roxon is accusing big tobacco of launching a smear campaign against her after it was revealed she had courted a tobacco company for donations.

In 2005 Ms Roxon's office sent letters asking three executives at Philip Morris for donations, a year after Labor banned cigarette companies from its donor list.

The minister concedes the letters were sent, but says they were sent in error.

She said the tobacco lobby was trying to discredit her.

"The appearance of these letters today is no accident," she said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Today we see that big tobacco is now playing the man and not the ball, but I won't be intimidated."

The letters invited the three executives to a $1500 a table fundraiser in October 2005 to support Ms Roxon's re-election and ended with: "I look forward to your continuing support".

It's a bad look for a health minister who's repeatedly boasted the fact that Labor banned political donations from tobacco companies in 2004. . . .

Ms Roxon has previously come under attack for attending the 1999 Australian Open tennis while a guest of Philip Morris.

But she's argued that one was a rookie mistake, coming just after she became an MP.

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Secondhand Smoke May Cause Children Mental Problems - New Study 

A new study shows that children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke have statistically higher levels of mental health problems, including "major depressive disorder," ADHD, and "conduct disorder." The study authors, including researchers from the National Institute of Mental Health, report that "the findings presented herein provide additional evidence of the harmful effects of SHS exposure on children and adolescents," and suggest that, if parents could be persuaded to smoke outside the home, the rate of mental illness would decline. http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/165/4/332

"This new study, which is consistent with other studies showing that secondhand smoke may cause or exacerbate mental disorder symptoms in adults, provides still another reason why parents should not smoke around their own children, or permit their offspring to visit in homes where people are smoking," says the public interest law professor who started - and now helps to lead - the movement to ban smoking wherever it affects others.

The study is especially compelling because it accurately determined the children's exposure to secondhand smoke by measuring the serum level of cotinine

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A Nationally Representative Case Control Study of Smoking and Death in India 

New England Journal of Medicine [NEJM] Article

* Abstract of the article |

* Full text of the article |

* Supplementary Appendix [pdf]

Press Release

Video Press Release

The English Version of this video release is now available in You Tube. Site visitors are invited to see the same video available at the bottom of this page

Powerpoint Slideshow

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Iowans for Equal Rights Health Department Letters Summary  

Prepared August 29, 2008

The author, subject and related questions for each of the eight letters sent to the Iowa Department of Public Health by directors of Iowans for Equal Rights are presented below. Full text of the letters, including background information, can be accessed by clicking on the inquiry link for each letter.

Inquiry No. 1, Mr. Coates: Effects of emergency declaration; how comments that are part of the formal rulemaking record can be made.

Questions: Based on the foregoing background and my layperson’s understanding I have three questions:

1. What was the “emergency” that caused the department’s Smokefree Air Act’s enforcement rules to adopted through an emergency declaration?

2. Does the health department consider comments submitted through the Web form as provided at www.iowasmokefreeair.gov, or public comments made at forthcoming public meetings presently scheduled for August 20, 2008, to be formal or informal?

3. Does the health department consider itself to have a formal, statutory duty to “consider fully” all comments, data or other submissions presented through the Web form? . . .

2. Why do the health department’s rules not require that identity of persons who file complaints with it concerning the Smokefree Air Act be credibly confirmed or provide for required information to do so? . . .

Questions: Based on the forgoing and my layperson’s understanding I ask the following questions:

1. What regulatory analysis, including consideration of different material risks arising from exposure to ETS in indoor and outdoor areas, has the Iowa Department of Public Health conducted in drafting its enforcement rules for the Smoke Free Air Act? . . .

Inquiry No. 8, Mr. Shanno: Separate designated smoking rooms according to ASHREA 62.1 Standard 2007.

Questions: Based on the preceding information and my layperson’s understanding I ask the following:

1. Were methods other than a prohibition of smoking in public places seriously considered by the Iowa Department of Public Health in promulgating its enforcement rules for HF 2212, the Smokefree Air Act?

2. Why were separately ventilated smoking rooms rejected by the Iowa Department of Public Health as means for compliance with HF 2212, the Smokefree Air Act?

3. The reduced ventilation rates under ASHRAE Standard 62.1 are contingent on “Smoke Free” environments, such as those created for public places under the health department’s current enforcement rules. How does the Iowa Department of Public Health reconcile increased health risks to employees and patrons caused by reduced ventilation and consequently higher concentrations of airborne toxins and carcinogens not related to tobacco smoke with the legislative purpose “. . . in order to protect the public health and the health of employees”?

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• ASHRAE Publishes New Standard 62.1  

ASHRAE has published the latest version of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, which sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings. The new 2007 ventilation standard contains key changes impacting ventilation system designers and their designs.

"Standard 62.1 has served the building industry and the public as the most prominent standard on ventilation for indoor air quality," Dennis Stanke, committee chair, said. "Changes in the 2007 standard build on the improvements published in the 2004 version, providing additional guidance for designers of building ventilation systems."

The new standard includes requirements for the separation of areas with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) from areas without ETS in the same building. Although some local building and health codes prohibit smoking indoors in many buildings and locations, other codes allow smoking in designated areas. In buildings that allow smoking in designated areas, effective separation of ETS areas ensures "ETS-free" areas contain little or no ETS-related contaminants. The new separation requirements help designers ensure effective separation, according to Stanke.

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• ASHRAE Publishes New IAQ Standard 

The new 2007 ventilation standard published by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) contains key changes impacting ventilation system designers and their designs. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, sets minimum ventilation rates and other requirements for commercial and institutional buildings.

The new standard includes requirements for the separation of areas with environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) from areas without ETS in the same building. Although some local building and health codes prohibit smoking indoors in many buildings and locations, other codes allow smoking in designated areas. In buildings that allow smoking in designated areas, effective separation of ETS areas ensures ETS-free areas contain little or no ETS-related contaminants. The new separation requirements help designers ensure effective separation, Stanke says.

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Position Document: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (PDF) 

5.0 CONCLUSIONS

• There is a consensus among cognizant medical authorities that ETS is a health risk, causing lung cancer and heart disease in adults, and causing adverse effects on the respiratory health of children, including exacerbating asthma and increasing risk for lower respiratory tract infection.

• At present, the only means of eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure is to ban all smoking activity.

• Although complete separation and isolation of smoking rooms can control ETS exposure in non-smoking spaces in the same building, adverse health effects for the occupants of the smoking room cannot be controlled by ventilation.

• No other engineering approaches, including current and advanced dilution ventilation, “air curtains” or air cleaning technologies, have been demonstrated or should be relied upon to control health risks from ETS exposure in spaces where smoking occurs, though some approaches may reduce that exposure and address odor and some forms of irritation.

• An increasing number of local and national governments, as well as many private building owners, are implementing/adopting bans on indoor smoking.

• At a minimum, ASHRAE members must abide by local regulations and building codes and stay aware of changes where they practice; they should also educate/inform their clients of the limits of engineering controls in regard to ETS.

• Because of ASHRAE’s mission to act for the benefit of the public, it encourages elimination of smoking in the indoor environment as the optimal way to control ETS exposure.

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• HVAC&R Engineers Offer Guidance on Indoor Smoking; 

Are ventilation systems effective in removing harmful substances from environmental tobacco smoke?

That's a question likely to be asked by business owners and others as they look for ways to deal with the new indoor smoking ban in Quebec and Ontario.

The answer is no, according to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ASHRAE has determined that although complete separation and isolation of smoking rooms can control environmental tobacco smoke exposure in non-smoking spaces in the same building, adverse health effects for the occupants of smoking areas cannot be controlled by ventilation.

"No matter how good the system, unless you strap a filter on your nose, you still breathe the mixture in the room that contains secondhand smoke," said Larry Schoen, P.E., who helped write ASHRAE's Environmental Tobacco Smoke Position Document.

The document provides information on the health consequences of exposure of nonsmokers to tobacco smoke in indoor environments, and on the implications of this knowledge for the design, installation and operation of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems.

To obtain a free copy of the position document, visit http://www.ashrae.org/positiondocuments.

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• Public place smoking restrictions 

Smoking restrictions are nothing new, but anti-tobacco activists are increasingly asking governments to go much further, even calling for total bans on lighting up in public places such as bars and restaurants.  But there are good and workable ways to banish smoke but not smokers, so that people who smoke don’t have to suffer social exclusion.

We don’t think people should be free to smoke wherever they like and we know many people dislike the smell of tobacco smoke and find it annoying. 

But we believe that total smoking bans are unnecessary and unfair, and many public opinion polls have shown them to be unpopular.  It is perfectly possible to continue to strike a balance by accommodating non-smokers and smokers separately and providing proper ventilation to reduce involuntary exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). 

Very few countries have adopted the total public place smoking bans that have been introduced in Ireland, Norway and New Zealand and a complete ban in 1999 in British Columbia in Canada, for example, was overturned by the courts in March 2000 on the basis that it was excessive.  . . .

This is about indoor air quality – and good ventilation is already recognised as a sound way to address it.  There is debate about ventilation.  For example, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) accepts that ventilation can reduce ETS, but takes the view that because it can’t totally eliminate every trace, it can’t totally eliminate health risks.  However, it’s clear that the full potential of ventilation in reducing ETS to acceptably low levels has not yet been fully illustrated.

We are working with independent bodies to show how ventilation can greatly reduce ETS and improve indoor air quality.  For example, we are working with the Building Services Research and Information Association (BSRIA) to test the effectiveness of air change rates on gases and particulate matter in indoor air. 

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• Changes to ASHRAE Standard 62.1 Ventilation Rates Proposed 

Ventilation requirements for high-rise residential buildings are among changes being proposed for ASHRAE's indoor air quality standard.

Three proposed addenda to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality, are available for comment until May 1. To obtain drafts of or comment on proposed addenda e, f and h, go to www.ashrae.org/standards. . . .

The scope also states that the standard includes no specific prescribed ventilation rates for smoking-permitted spaces or for improperly separated non-smoking spaces (since these spaces might also contain environmental tobacco smoke).

"Although they contain no specific compliance requirements, statements of scope and purpose must be clear and accurate to help users of the standard apply it properly," he said.

In other news about Standard 62.1, the impact of ventilation rates on occupant health is being studied through ASHRAE research.

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• Casinos may face bans on smoking 

One of the key issues the American Gaming Association will tackle next year will be fighting initiatives across the country that would ban smoking in casinos.

The association's chief executive, Frank Fahrenkopf, said the industry is "tremendously concerned" about the proliferation of anti-smoking petitions and other measures.

Smoking bans hurt business for casinos because some gamblers prefer to smoke, Fahrenkopf said.

As an alternative, the American Gaming Association is pushing casino members to adopt improved air filtration systems that can suck up smoke and blow in fresh air.

The association is working with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers to create a "best practices" air filtration standard that casinos can follow, Fahrenkopf said.

After the first of the year, the trade group expects to meet with the heads of several state gaming associations to discuss a standard that can be shown to state legislators and residents, he said.

"The real battle is not the federal level," Fahrenkopf said. "It's going to be at the state level."

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• Casinos May Face Bans on Smoking 

One of the key issues the American Gaming Association will tackle next year will be fighting initiatives across the country that would ban smoking in casinos.

The association's chief executive, Frank Fahrenkopf, said the industry is "tremendously concerned" about the proliferation of anti-smoking petitions and other measures.

Smoking bans hurt business for casinos because some gamblers prefer to smoke, Fahrenkopf said.

As an alternative, the American Gaming Association is pushing casino members to adopt improved air filtration systems that can suck up smoke and blow in fresh air.

The association is working with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers to create a "best practices" air filtration standard that casinos can follow, Fahrenkopf said.

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• Position Document: Environmental Tobacco Smoke 

ASHRAE concludes that:

• It is the consensus of the medical community and its cognizant authorities that ETS is a health risk, causing lung cancer and heart disease in adults, and exacerbation of asthma, lower respiratory illnesses and other adverse effects on the respiratory health of children.

• At present, the only means of effectively eliminating health risk associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity.

• Although complete separation and isolation of smoking rooms can control ETS exposure in non-smoking spaces in the same building, adverse health effects for the occupants of the smoking room cannot be controlled by ventilation.

• No other engineering approaches, including current and advanced dilution ventilation or air cleaning technologies, have been demonstrated or should be relied upon to control health risks from ETS exposure in spaces where smoking occurs. Some engineering measures may reduce that exposure and the corresponding risk to some degree while also addressing to some extent the comfort issues of odor and some forms of irritation.

• An increasing number of local and national governments, as well as many private building owners, are adopting and implementing bans on indoor smoking.

• At a minimum, ASHRAE members must abide by local regulations and building codes and stay aware of changes in areas where they practice, and should educate and inform their clients of the substantial limitations and the available benefits of engineering controls.

• Because of ASHRAE’s mission to act for the benefit of the public, it encourages elimination of smoking in the indoor environment as the optimal way to minimize ETS exposure.

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• ASHRAE Advises Design Engineers on Secondhand Smoke 

a new Environmental Tobacco Smoke Position Document from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers tells design engineers how to work with local regulations and codes on secondhand smoke. ASHRAE said it believes designers "should educate their clients of the substantial limitations and available benefits of engineering controls."

The document contains information on the health consequences of non-smokers' exposure to tobacco smoke indoors and how this affects the design, installation, and operation of HVAC systems. The 55,000-member organization said it realizes indoor smoking bans are the best way to minimize exposure but also recognizes "much of the population" is exposed to secondhand smoke in workplaces, homes, and public places.

The document outlines four design and operation approaches: banning smoking indoors, smoking allowed only in isolated rooms, smoking allowed in separate but not isolated spaces, and mixed occupancy of smokers and non-smokers. To obtain a free copy, visit "position documents" at www.ashrae.org.

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