How You Can Help Hold Big Tobacco Accountable
Nearly 20 years ago, a U.S. Federal District judge found that the major cigarette manufacturers violated civil racketeering laws for deliberately defrauding the public.
News
Howard County prohibits e-cigarettes whereever smoking is prohibited
August 10, 2015
Howard County Council Puts Public Health First
Statement of Bonita Pennino, Maryland Government Relations Director for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN)
BALTIMORE – August 1, 2015 – The Howard County Council passed today a bill that prohibits use of e-cigarettes wherever smoking is prohibited. A statement from ACS CAN Maryland Government Relations Director, Bonita Pennino, follows:
“ACS CAN commends the Howard County Council for passing this ordinance, which prohibits the use of electronic smoking devices wherever smoking is prohibited. We believe this bill is an important step toward maintaining safe indoor workplaces and we encourage the County Executive to sign this ordinance as soon as possible.
“ACS CAN has significant concerns about the potential public health effects of e-cigarettes. E"cigarette emissions may contain nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals. A growing number of studies have examined the contents of e"cigarette aerosol. Unlike a vapor, an aerosol contains fine particles of liquid, solid, or both. Studies have shown that the use of e-cigarettes can cause short-term lung changes and irritations. Preliminary studies indicate nonusers can be exposed to the same potentially harmful chemicals as users, including nicotine, ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds.
“Howard County has been a leader in protecting the health of the county residents as evidenced in the passage of the Howard County smoke-free law prior to the passage of the statewide Clean Indoor Air Act of 2007. By passing the e-cigarette bill today, Howard County Council members are again showing the state that protecting everyone’s right to breathe clean air is a top priority.”
ABOUT ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit https://www.fightcancer.org/.
# # #
Related Updates
