Otter Tail County Public Health Director, Diane Thorson, said a new U.S. Surgeon General's Report on secondhand smoke leaves absolutely no doubt that secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard.
It was unusually good timing that the report was announced just as the Otter Tail secondhand smoke ordinance campaign is gaining steam.
"It was really ironic that the report was released on Tuesday...the day before we attended the Perham City Council meeting," said Dan Peterson, a smoking ban advocate and medical professional with Perham Memorial Home and Hospital. He and several other ordinance supporters spoke at the June 26 city council session.
"Every once in a while, nature lines up and this was one of those serendipity moments were everything happened the way it should," laughed Peterson. The presentation at the council meeting occurred within 24 hours of the national publicity from the report.
The Surgeon General's report, released June 25 in Washington, DC, finds:
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* Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in adults and sudden infant death syndrome and respiratory problems in children..
* There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
* Exposure to secondhand smoke has substantial and immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.
* Establishing smoke-free workplaces is the only effective way to
ensure that secondhand smoke exposure does not occur in the workplace.
* Separating smokers from non-smokers in the same air space, cleaning the air and ventilating buildings are not effective at eliminating exposure of non-smokers to secondhand smoke.
* Smoke-free policies and regulations do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry.
* Secondhand smoke isn't just an annoyance, but a serious health hazard.
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The report was issued on the same day as the 2006 Secondhand Smoke Survey of Registered Voters in Otter Tail County. The local survey concluded nearly 87 percent of Otter Tail County residents support a county-wide smoke-free ordinance.
The survey of Otter Tail County registered voters which was conducted by the NDSU Data Center showed that voters believe secondhand smoke is a health issue and that air quality should be regulated in the same way as safe and sanitary food and lodging.
The Otter Tail County survey showed strong concern for the health of workers with 86 percent agreeing that restaurant employees should have a smoke-free workplace. 75 percent thought bar employees should have a smoke-free workplace. Otter Tail County Commissioners are currently considering a county-wide smoke-free ordinance.
They are expected to make a decision on the ordinance by late summer.
