Adding E-cigarettes to Allegheny County’s Smoke-free Law a Victory for Public Health
Pittsburgh, PA– March 7, 2017 – This statement can be attributed to four of the leading health advocacy organizations: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
“Pennsylvania’s health advocacy organizations are celebrating the passage of legislation that will restrict the use of e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is prohibited in Allegheny County. We're grateful that those who live or work in Allegheny County will no longer be exposed to potentially unsafe secondhand aerosol emitted from electronic cigarettes where smoking is already prohibited under Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act.
“The US Surgeon General weighed-in in a 2016 report confirming that the aerosol from e-cigarettes is not harmless. According to the US Surgeon General, the aerosol can contain harmful and potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine; ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; flavoring such diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.”
“We applaud the county council for putting public health first and taking this common sense step forward. We look forward to continuing to work with the state legislature to strengthen Pennsylvania’s Clean Indoor Air Act statewide by eliminating exemptions in the current law.”
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