August University Enforcing Campus Clean Air Act. Smoking on campus is illegal under new state law

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1 Office of Environmental Health and Safety University of Arkansas 521 S. Razorback Road Dr. Miriam Lonon, Manager Michelle Depperschmidt, Secretary Hillary Booth, Occupational Safety Coordinator Wayne Brashear, Fire Marshal Daniel Hudson, Safety Coordinator Lew Meyers, Computer/Informatio n Technologist and Pollution Prevention Coordinator Shatara Porchia-White, Biological Safety Coordinator Julia Tchakhalian, Radiation Safety Officer Mike Stiles, Campus Safety Officer Rick Williams, Chemical Hygiene Officer Volume 2/Number 15 August 2010 Many people deal with smoking either personally or through a family member or acquaintance. There is information on both sides of the issue, some think it is acceptable while others disagree and then there are those in the middle. Recently, the University of Arkansas has decided to enforce the Campus Clean Air Act, so the purpose of this issue of the EH&S newsletter is to provide some information about smoking and where we stand, as a state, on the issue. The information in this newsletter will be taken from the University of Arkansas s website as well as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention s (CDC) website. For additional information regarding any of the information presented, please visit: or Below is the notice that was posted by the University of Arkansas to indicate its stance on how the Clean Air Act will be enforced. University Enforcing Campus Clean Air Act Smoking on campus is illegal under new state law Monday, August 02, 2010 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. A new state law went into effect Aug. 1 prohibiting smoking on campuses of all public institutions of higher education in Arkansas, with penalties of $100 to $500 per violation. The University of Arkansas enacted a tobacco free policy in July, 2008, but the state law means that University of Arkansas Police officers can and will write tickets to anyone caught smoking on campus property. UAPD officials have indicated that they will issue warnings, not tickets, for at least the first month the law is in effect. The majority of students return to campus beginning Aug. 16. The University of Arkansas campus was one of the first major institutions of higher education in the country to prohibit tobacco use on all campus property. The tobacco free policy was announced one year in advance of it being put into effect on July 1, And the policy was designed to encourage compliance and change the culture of smoking on campus. This policy, which prohibits all tobacco use including smokeless tobacco, remains in effect.

2 Violators of the state Clean Air On Campus Act of 2009 will be subject to a fine of not less than $100 and no more than $500. This law will be enforced through citations issued by University of Arkansas Police officers. The new law, like the tobacco-free policy, applies to everyone on the University of Arkansas campus, students, faculty, staff and visitors. According to the CDC, there is a new tobacco regulation as of July 22, See the information below: No More "Light," "Low," or "Mild" Cigarettes Tobacco Regulation July 22, 2010, marks another milestone in tobacco control and prevention. As of that date, the law prohibits the tobacco industry from distributing or introducing into the U.S. market any tobacco products for which the labeling or advertising contains the descriptors light, low, mild, or any similar descriptor, irrespective of the date of manufacture. However, consumers may continue to see some products with these descriptors for sale in stores after July 22, because retailers are permitted to sell off their inventory. A Brief History Cigarettes labeled "light," "low," or "mild" are often called "low-yield" because they deliver less than 15 mg of tar when measured on a standardized smoking machine. After a 1964 historic Surgeon General's report on smoking and health, cigarette manufacturers made changes in cigarette design to achieve and promote low-yield cigarettes (e.g., filters, ventilation holes, chemical additives). Advertisements implied that the low-yield cigarettes were safer than regular cigarettes. However, there is no convincing scientific evidence to indicate that low-yield cigarettes are safe. No cigarette design changes have resulted in a decrease in the diseases caused by smoking. Protecting Public Health Prohibiting the use of terms like "light," "low," and "mild" is an important step to help protect the public health. Many smokers mistakenly believe that cigarettes marketed with these descriptors cause fewer health problems than other cigarettes. Studies have found that smokers who use light cigarettes do not reduce their risk for developing smoking-related cancers and other diseases, that switching to light

3 cigarettes does not help smokers quit, and that switching to light cigarettes may actually decrease the motivation to quit. All cigarettes are harmful to health regardless of their taste, smell, label, or packaging color. There is no such thing as a safe cigarette. Help to Quit Millions of former smokers have successfully quit. In fact, today there are more former smokers than smokers. For help, visit or call QUIT-NOW ( ; TTY ). Resources for Individuals A list of resources to help you learn about the health consequences of smoking, secondhand smoke, and smokeless tobacco use plus suggestions to help you quit smoking. Health Effects Cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases are caused by tobacco use. Also find information on the health effects of smoking during pregnancy. Cancer Heart Disease and Stroke Respiratory Health Secondhand Smoke Smoking During Pregnancy Cancer The risk of developing lung cancer is about 23 times higher among men who smoke cigarettes and about 13 times higher among women who smoke cigarettes compared with never smokers. Cigarette smoking increases the risk for many types of cancer, including cancers of the lip, oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, pancreas, larynx (voice box), lung, uterine cervix, urinary bladder, and kidney. Rates of cancers related to cigarette smoking vary widely among members of racial/ethnic groups but are highest among African-American men.

4 Heart Disease and Stroke Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smokers are 2 4 times more likely to develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers. Cigarette smoking approximately doubles a person's risk for stroke. Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries). People who smoke have a much greater risk of developing peripheral vascular disease than nonsmokers. Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm. Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25 30% and their lung cancer risk by 20 30%. Breathing secondhand smoke has immediate harmful effects on the cardiovascular system that can increase the risk of heart attack. People who already have heart disease are at especially high risk. Respiratory Health Cigarette smoking is associated with a tenfold increase in the risk of dying from chronic obstructive lung disease. About 90% of all deaths from chronic obstructive lung diseases are attributable to cigarette smoking. Secondhand Smoke Find information on secondhand smoke exposure, health effects, and smoke-free initiatives and resources. Sabemos English/Spanish language kit that addresses secondhand smoke exposure. Smoking During Pregnancy Research has shown that smoking during pregnancy causes health problems for both mothers and babies, such as Pregnancy complications Premature birth Low-birth-weight infants Stillbirth Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

5 Tobacco Control State Highlights 2010 Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Each year in the United States, cigarette smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke causes 443,000 or 1 in 5 deaths. Economic losses are also staggering. Smoking-caused diseases result in $96 billion in health care costs annually. Some states have significantly improved the health of their citizens by reducing smoking rates, thereby decreasing smoking-related diseases, deaths, and health care costs. Even in economically challenging times, states can make a significant difference in public health by employing high-impact, cost-effective tobacco control and prevention strategies to Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies Protect people from tobacco smoke Offer help to quit tobacco use Warn people about the dangers of tobacco Enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship Raise state cigarette taxes on tobacco Tobacco Control State Highlights 2010 guides states in developing and implementing high-impact strategies and assessing their performance. This report also provides state-specific data intended to 1. Highlight how some states are making great strides in reducing smoking rates using evidencebased strategies while also showing that more work needs to be done in other states 2. Enable readers to see how their own states perform 3. Help policymakers with decision making State Highlights (See CDC s website for information related to all states) Arkansas Monitor In Arkansas, 22.3% of the adult population (ages 18+) over 480,000 individuals are current cigarette smokers. Across all states, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults ranges from 9.3% to 26.5%. Arkansas ranks 44th among the states.

6 Among youth ages 12-17, 14.5% smoke in Arkansas. The range across all states is 6.5% to 15.9%. Arkansas ranks 49th among the states. Among adults ages 35+, over 4,900 died as a result of tobacco use per year, on average, during This represents a smoking-attributable mortality rate of 323.7/100,000. Arkansas's smokingattributable mortality rate ranks 45th among the states. Protect Arkansas has a smoke-free law that provides partial protection against exposure to secondhand smoke in public places.

7 Among adults who work indoors, the percentage who reported anyone smoking in their work area within the preceding two weeks has remained lower in Arkansas than in the nation overall. Currently, Arkansas rank 19th among the states for workplace exposure, at 6.2%. Offer Best Practices estimates 8% of smokers could access quitlines each year. In Arkansas, 3.0% of smokers called their quitline. The Medicaid fee-for-service program in Arkansas provides only partial coverage for tobacco dependence treatment. Arkansas's Medicaid policy provides coverage for both bupropion and varenicline. Arkansas's Medicaid policy provides coverage for individual counseling, but not group or telephone counseling. Warn Smoke-free home rules represent awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke. In Arkansas, as in the nation, an increasing number of families have such a rule. Currently, 65.1% of Arkansas homes have this rule. Arkansas ranks 49th among the states.

8 Rating point data were available for 42 states and the District of Columbia. Best Practices recommendations translate into an average of 800 Targeted Rating Points (TRPs) in effective youth and 1200 Gross Rating Points (GRPs) in effective general audience anti-tobacco media campaigns per quarter. Arkansas's major media market(s) aired an average of 49 youth TRPs and 52 general audience GRPs per quarter in Arkansas ranks 20th among the states for the number of youth TRPs and 31st among the states for the number of general audience GRPs aired. Enforce Arkansas allows local regulation of tobacco industry promotions, sampling and display of tobacco products in commercial establishments. Arkansas requires all establishments selling tobacco products over the counter and by vending machine to be licensed. Currently, 37 states require licensure for both over the counter and vending machine sales. Raise Arkansas maintains a $1.15 per pack tax, ranking 27th among the states.

9 Arkansas has a minimum price law. Wholesalers must mark up cigarettes by 4 percent and retailers must mark up cigarettes by at least 7 percent. This law has the effect of limiting the amount of discounting that can be offered through coupons and other types of sales promotions. Approximately 18% of the annual revenue generated from state excise taxes and settlement payments would fund Arkansas's tobacco control program at the Best Practices recommended amount. However, in 2007, Arkansas's funding for tobacco control was 44.3% of the recommended level. Arkansas ranks 10th among the states.