HHS HealthBeat (January 08, 2007)

Smoke-free around the nation

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Every building isn’t smoke-free, although the Surgeon General says that’s the only sure protection against secondhand smoke. But researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention find the idea is taking root.

CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report says close to three quarters of households and workplaces surveyed restricted smoking.

There are still places where smoking is allowed. And the CDC’s Joel London notes that just restricting smoking to one room isn’t enough, because fumes travel. That leaves nonsmoking adults with higher risks of heart and lung disease and children who get sick more often.

And, with one in five adults still smoking, London says:

"A staggering statistic – more than 126 million nonsmoking Americans continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, vehicles, workplaces and public places." (10 seconds.)

Learn more at www.hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I'm Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: January, 08 2007