In the United States, secondhand smoke kills 41,000 nonsmoking adults and 400 infants each year.  Being outside doesn’t protect you from secondhand smoke exposure. Studies have shown that outdoor secondhand smoke exposure levels can be comparable to indoor levels. Secondhand smoke seriously affects the non-smoker by increasing the risk of cancer and heart disease, as well as increasing the risk of poor lung growth and serious lung illnesses in children.

Tobacco litter affects the environment.  Cigarette butts are the number one littered item in the world and are toxic to children and animals. Other forms of tobacco litter, like wrappers, plastic packaging, and e-cigarette pods and cartridges are also harmful to the environment.

Tobacco-Free CNY (TFCNY) is working to establish more tobacco-free outdoor (TFO) areas and de-normalize tobacco use throughout CNY, specifically at workplaces, parks, beaches, playgrounds and entryways to buildings. TFCNY can assist with policy creation, provide free tobacco-free signage and educate on the benefits of tobacco-free policies in your community.

Please contact TFCNY if you would like to see a tobacco-free outdoor policy in your community.

Study source: https://news.stanford.edu/news/2007/may9/smoking-050907.html