Secondhand woes

Casinos should be smoke-free

Exposure to secondhand smoke causes an estimated 41,000 deaths from lung cancer and heart disease among adults each year in the United States. In Arkansas, secondhand smoke is the third-leading cause of preventable death, with approximately 575 Arkansans dying each year from someone else’s smoke. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent, and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.

The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.

The report, “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke,” finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. “The health effects of secondhand smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought,” said Surgeon General Richard Carmona, Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service. “The scientific evidence is now indisputable: Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and non-smoking adults.”

The report states the only way to protect nonsmokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.

A recent report from the American Gaming Association titled “Gaming Careers: Gateway to the Middle Class,” notes that minorities make up 45 percent of gaming employees in the United States. Research shows that nearly 40 percent of African American adults age 20 and older and almost a quarter of Hispanic American adults age 20 and older—the age many employees begin working in casinos—are exposed to secondhand smoke.

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease exacts a disproportionate toll on many racial and ethnic groups that have higher rates of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors—such as working in smoke-filled environments. This overlap is not a mere coincidence. Both employee and patron health is threatened by the presence of secondhand smoke.

Every prominent health agency affirms that ventilation systems, smoking rooms, and smoking sections do not address the health hazards of exposure to secondhand smoke. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health strongly recommends that all employers—including casinos—adopt a smoke-free workplace policy and that electronic smoking devices should not be used in smoke-free spaces.

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers affirms that indoor air quality for human occupancy means a smoke-free environment, and that HVAC systems and air cleaning technologies do not address the health hazards of secondhand smoke.

Casino executives and policymakers in more than 20 states, several cities and a growing number of sovereign Native American tribes have required gaming venues to be 100 percent smoke-free indoors. There are nearly 800 smoke-free casinos and other gambling venues across the United States.

Smoke-free casinos are thriving in more than a third of the country. In fact, all of Ohio’s gambling venues are 100 percent smoke-free indoors and successfully compete with all casinos and gambling venues in their regional markets, including those without smoke-free policies. Ohio’s smoke-free casinos are being credited for a significant decline in Indiana’s gaming revenue (Ohio up 36 percent, Indiana down 11 percent). With outdoor smoking areas off the gaming floor, Ohio casinos are welcoming to customers—smokers and nonsmokers alike—while protecting the health of their work force and the general public.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends establishing smoke-free areas that protect from secondhand smoke and electronic cigarette emissions, including all indoor areas without exception, all areas immediately outside building entrances and air intakes, and all work vehicles.

One hundred percent smokefree polices are the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace.

Dr. Valandra Oliver is director and associate professor at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Minority Research Center on Tobacco and Addictions. Dr. Marian S. Lothery is program coordinator at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Minority Initiative Sub-Recipient Grant Office.