University students are one demographic that will benefit most from the recent amendments to the Utah Indoor Clean Air Act, said a health department official.
“The issue isn’t about smokers,” said Steve Hadden, health program specialist at the Utah Department of Health, in a presentation in HPER North on March 28. “The issue is about smoking and what it does to people.”
The new amendments strengthen current clean air policies and require more workplaces to be smoke free. These changes are designed to protect residents and visitors from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
According to Surgeon General reports, exposure to secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable death, killing 53,000 to 65,000 people annually.
Utah is one of 12 states to adopt comprehensive smoke-free workplace regulations.
“These amendments are particularly relevant for college students, as they are likely to work in establishments, such as bars and taverns, where they may be unwittingly exposed to the hazardous effects of secondhand smoke,” Hadden said.
Facilities used by social, fraternal and religious organizations were also included in the legislation.
“Campus clubs and other organizations will also be affected if they lease or rent facilities off campus,” Hadden said.
If unsure about the classification of an establishment, Hadden encouraged students to ask an employee or manager.
Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke include heart disease, asthma induction and exacerbation, nasal sinus cancer, lung cancer, chronic respiratory symptoms in children and elevated risk of stroke in adults.
Economic impacts include increased absenteeism from work, increased health-care costs, higher accident rates and decreased productivity, he said.
Dan Mealy, sophomore in Middle East studies, thinks the new laws are a good idea.
“People don’t realize the health problems related to secondhand smoke,” he said. “We should be proactive in protecting our health, not reactive. Why should my health be affected because of someone else’s decision to smoke?”
To learn more about the UICAA amendments, visit www.tobaccofreeutah.org or call Hadden at the Utah Department of Health at 538-6260.
To get help quitting, call the Tobacco Free Resource line at 1-877-220-3466.