Senator Fuschillo Applauds Study Showing That New York State’s Smoking Ban Protects People From Dangerous Second Hand Smoke

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District), author of New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act which made almost all indoor worksites and public places smoke free, today praised the results of a study that showed a dramatic drop in non-smokers' exposure to second hand smoke since the law was enacted in 2003.

"This study proves what we believed all along; that this law is protecting people from the harmful effects of second hand smoke," said Senator Fuschillo. "Safeguarding individuals from being exposed to second hand smoke will continue to improve public health and reduce costs to our healthcare system."

The study, which was conducted by the New York State Department of Health and published by the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention, found that non-smokers’ exposure to second hand smoke dropped by almost 50%. Researchers tested saliva samples from over 1,500 non-smokers collected before and after the implementation of the law, and found significant drops in the levels of continine, a nicotine byproduct found in second hand smoke.

According to the American Cancer Society, second hand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, and the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. It is classified as a known human carcinogeon by the EPA. Non-smokers exposed to second hand smoke absorb the same toxic chemicals just as smokers do, and run the risk of developing many of the same health ailments as smokers, such as cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems, and asthma.

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