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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
Tel: 1-800-CDC-INFO
(1-800-232-4636)
TTY: 1-888-232-6348
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
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Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)
Preemptive State Smoke-Free Indoor Air Laws—
United States, 1999–2004
March 18, 2005 / Vol. 54 / No. 10
MMWR Highlights
- Preemption provisions in state smoke-free indoor air laws remain common
and almost no progress is being made toward the 2010 goal of eliminating all
preemptive state smoke-free indoor air laws.
- States without preemption provisions may set minimum requirements and
allow the continued passage and enforcement of local ordinances that can
establish a greater level of public health protection.
- As of December 31, 2004, a total of 19 states had at least one preemptive
provision in their smoke-free indoor air legislation. During 1999–2004,
state-level smoke-free indoor air laws lost preemptive provisions (totally
or in part) in two states and acquired preemptive status in three states.
- During 1999–2004, two states (Delaware and Louisiana) repealed and two
states (Mississippi and Oregon) adopted preemption provisions in laws for
government worksites; two states (Delaware and Louisiana) repealed and one
state (Oregon) adopted preemption provisions in laws for private worksites;
and one state (Delaware) repealed and two states (New Hampshire and Oregon)
gained preemptive provisions in laws for restaurants.
Background
- Policies establishing smoke-free environments are the most effective
method for reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, and restrictions on where
smoking is allowed are associated with decreased cigarette consumption and
possibly with increased cessation rates among workers and the general
public.
- An estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths and more than 35,000 coronary heart disease
deaths occur annually among adult nonsmokers in the United States as a
result of exposure to secondhand smoke.
- There is no known safe level of secondhand smoke exposure, and evidence
suggests that even short-term exposure may increase the risk of experiencing
a heart attack.
- Exposure to secondhand smoke is associated with an increased risk for
lower respiratory infections, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome, and
chronic ear infections among children.
- Although population-based data show declining secondhand smoke exposure in
the United States over time, secondhand smoke exposure remains a common,
preventable public health hazard.
Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007