1. Second-hand smoke alone kills over 50,000 a year.
2. Second-hand smoke causes heart disease and lung cancer in non-smokers, increasing the chances a non-smoker will develop these diseases by 25-30% and 20-30% respectively.
3. Second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and 70 that can cause cancer.

Clear the Air at Work

Workplaces are one the most common sources of second-hand smoke exposure.

Second-hand smoke in the workplace has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer among adult non-smokers.

Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating the building cannot prevent second-hand smoke exposure if workers still smoke inside the building.

Going second-hand smoke free in the workplace can lead to lower maintenance expenses, lower insurance premiums, and lower labor costs.

Clear the Air at Home

In children, second-hand smoke exposure can slow lung growth, lead to acute respiratory infections, induce more severe asthma attacks and even lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Each year, second-hand smoke is responsible for 150,000 to 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia among children under 18 months of age, leading to 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations.

53.6% of young children (aged 3–11 years) were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2007–2008.

While only 5.4% of adult non-smokers in the United States lived with someone who smoked inside their home, 18.2% of children (aged 3–11 years) lived with someone who smoked inside their home in 2007–2008.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can be done to protect us from second-hand smoke?
Research has documented the effectiveness of laws and policies to protect the public from second-hand smoke exposure, promote cessation, and prevent initiation by young people. In Florida, a growing number of cities, counties, school districts, colleges and universities are enacting laws and policies to prevent second-hand smoke exposure and to increase the number of tobacco-free public spaces. A few of these include:

• University of Florida became a tobacco-free campus in July 2010; Florida International University followed in January 2011. Five other Florida colleges have smoke-free policies campus-wide.
• The school districts in Alachua, Citrus, Collier, Madison, Monroe, Putnam, and Marion counties have tobacco-free policies that apply to students, staff and visitors.
• The cities of Chipley, Lauderdale Lakes and Parkland have passed ordinances to prohibit smoking and tobacco use in city parks and recreation areas.
• Cape Canaveral and Gilchrist County have passed resolutions calling on the state Legislature to restore local control of smoke-free spaces so elected officials can close loopholes that leave thousands of Floridians exposed to second-hand smoke.

Do Orange County residents support making public space smoke-free?
Orange County residents overwhelming support tobacco-free spaces in our community. An independent survey of Orange County residents conducted for all in found:

• 88% believe laws prohibiting tobacco in public places create a healthier environment.
• 86% believe community members should be protected from second-hand smoke .
• 89% believe cigarettes are a litter problem.
• 52% of registered voters said they would be more likely to vote for a local politician who supported tobacco-free policies. Another 31% said the issue would not affect their vote either way.