Updated: 03.12.2010

The scientific evidence is clear: Secondhand smoke is a proven cause of serious diseases and premature death.  That's why people across the United States and around the world are speaking up for their right to breathe clean, smoke-free air.  And it's why a growing number of cities, states and countries are enacting laws that require all workplaces and public places to be smoke-free.

In the United States:

• 28 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have passed smoke-free laws that cover restaurants and bars. The states are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas (effective July 1, 2010), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan (May 1, 2010), Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin (July 5, 2010).  South Dakota has also enacted such a law, but it is on hold pending a voter referendum in November 2010.

• Four other states — Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and Nevada — have smoke-free laws that cover restaurants, but exempt stand-alone bars.

• Hundreds of cities and countries across the country have also taken action.

A growing number of countries have also passed strong smoke-free laws, including Bhutan, Chad, Colombia, Djibouti, Guatemala, Guinea, Iceland, Iran, Ireland, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Turkey, Tuvalu, the United Kingdom, Uruguay and Zambia.  All Canadian provinces/territories and Australian states/territories have also enacted such laws.

Recent scientific studies have underscored why elected officials lack excuses for failing to enact comprehensive smoke-free laws.

On October 15, 2009, the U.S. Institute of Medicine released a report that concludes secondhand smoke causes disease, include heart attacks, while smoke-free laws prevent heart attacks. The report also found there is compelling evidence that even relatively brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause a heart attack.

On June 27, 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released a landmark report on secondhand smoke. The report's major conclusions:

• The scientific evidence is indisputable that secondhand smoke harms human health.  As Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard that causes premature death and disease in children and nonsmoking adults."

• Secondhand smoke is a proven cause of lung cancer and heart disease in nonsmoking adults and of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), low birth weight, acute respiratory infections, ear infections and asthma attacks in infants and children. It is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S. each year.

• There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Exposure to secondhand smoke has substantial and immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system.

• The only way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to require smoke-free workplaces and public places. Other approaches, such as air ventilation systems and smoking and non-smoking sections, do not eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.

• Smoke-free policies do not have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry. (see Fact Sheet: Smoke-Free Laws Do Not Hurt Business at Restaurants and Bar).

It's time to protect everyone's right to breathe clean air.