Smoke-Free Air: The Time is Now for Meaningful Protection

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the facts are clear: No level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe.

Secondhand smoke causes respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma. It leads to 35,000 to 45,000 deaths each year from heart disease and 3,000 more deaths from lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can be dangerous.

The Surgeon General of the United States suggests a “proven, simple” remedy to the problem: smoke-free environments.

In 2008, the Nebraska Legislature took a historic step to protect the right of every Nebraskan to breathe smoke-free air in worksites throughout the state, single-handedly reducing heart disease, lung cancer, asthma attacks and bronchitis.

This presentation outlines the protections provided by this law, as well as information about the importance of smoke-free worksites.