Digest #9: This Week in Smoke-free News

I'm going to preface this week's digest with some news that will likely affect the future of my blog: I've accepted a full-time job and am starting work this Monday. However, I am determined to find some time to share my thoughts about current smoke-free news. With that said, today is a very big day in tobacco control, and I will explain why in the second half of this post.

Third-hand Smoke and Multi-Unit Housing
Yep, you read it right. I was first introduced to the concept of third-hand smoke at the 2009 CYAN student conference. Members of my organization were given a copy of a New York Times article that described third-hand smoke as,

"the invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, not to mention cushions and carpeting, that lingers long after second-hand smoke has cleared from a room. The residue includes heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor." --The New York Times

So, the discomfort that many feel inside a room that merely smells like smoke is more than just an annoyance--it's the product of a health hazard. When I ask smokers about third-hand smoke, they often laugh and say something like, "You mean you're actually concerned about the air exhaled by people who inhale secondhand smoke?" Okay, so maybe it's not the best name for the phenomenon, but research has shown that third-hand smoke is potentially dangerous.

Third-hand smoke has become a major factor in decisions to make public housing smoke-free. The same can be said for hotels and apartment complexes that are taking the matter seriously. I'm not saying that every apartment that has ever housed a smoker should be demolished and rebuilt, but I am saying that residents of multi-unit housing deserve the health benefits of a smoking ban. Even some smokers agree!

However, tackling the issue of third-hand smoke will be infinitely easier to do once secondhand smoke is removed from housing units. Of course, this is easier said than done. I just read a letter to the editor from a retired British Columbia cop whose neighbor is a heavy smoker. He writes,

"...my wife and I are disabled and we are severely allergic to cigarette smoke. My wife has multiple sclerosis and I have a similar disorder, and we can rarely get out of the house because of our disabilities. So we’re trapped and our health suffers with no hope of relief. Life is just not fair...An ordinary person might say — "just move." Well, it’s not as simple as that. Accessibility is an absolute need. We have equipped this unit with physical aids such as ramps, grab bars, safety poles, special shower/bath and the like...I don’t know what to do...Heck, all we would like is to breathe...Help, we need an advocate."--Langley

For the sake of brevity (and redundancy), I won't rant about the stark injustices that this elderly couple is facing. But I will say this: Circumstances like this inspire me--oblige me, rather--to take action against public smoking.

'The Tobacco War Still Isn't Won'
As I mentioned earlier, it is a big day for tobacco control. Today, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009 goes into effect. The most apparent changes will be visible on cigarette boxes. Instead of labeling their "healthier" products as "light," "mild," or "low-tar," tobacco companies are now federally prohibited from selling certain products that are marketed as less dangerous than their alternatives. So, they have resorted to color-coding--an obvious attempt to gain leverage over the consumer through psychological associations. For example, Marlboro Lights will now be known as Marlboro Blues, ostensibly because the color blue tends to evoke serenity, and therefore safety. If only I still worked as a grocery store cashier and could witness customers' frustration as they try to describe the type of cigarettes they want to buy from me...

The law doesn't stop there. As of today, the prohibition of tobacco sales to minors is now a federal law. Furthermore, cigarette vending machines are only allowed in areas where kids are not allowed. Sponsorships, free giveaways, and other product distributions are further limited. In short, the U.S. government has taken a big step in tobacco regulation. However, it would be foolish for advocates to stop here; there is surely more to be done in curbing smoking and secondhand smoke, and I hope to contribute to this change one day.

Thanks for reading.