Smoke-free Air Policies

to Reduce Smoking
 Background
Misuse and Abuse of Tobacco
Increase rates of
cancer
Lung cancer
Heart disease
Poor circulation
High blood
pressure
 Key Facts on Tobacco
Use
It is estimated that two people die each
minute from tobacco-related disease in the
Western Pacific.
On the average, smokers die 10 years
earlier than non-smokers.
Secondha
nd Smoke
There are over
7,000 known
chemicals
found in
secondhand
smoke and
250 are
known to be
toxic.
 Designate Smoke-Free
Evidence has shown that there is no
safe level of exposure to secondhand
smoke.
Separate or ventilated smoking areas
do not protect nonsmokers from
secondhand smoke.
Only 100% smoke free places
improve overall air quality.
Pregnancy and Tobacco
Smoke
Low birth weight
baby
Risk of stillbirth
Chemicals from
Babies with birth
secondhand smoke
defects
affect the brain
cleft palate
and interferes with
heart problems
the infants
breathing
 Youth and Tobacco
Studies have shown that children whose parents
smoke are sick more often.
Get more frequent and severe asthma attacks
Lung problems, like bronchitis and pneumonia
Ear infections
We must protect our youth from tobacco!
www.euro.who.i
nt
WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control
Identifies key policy
interventions critical to
combat tobacco
To stop the NCD
epidemic, leaders at all
levels must commit to
fully enacting the
provisions outlined in
the Framework
Convention
 Article 8: Protection from
exposure to tobacco smoke
total elimination of smoking and
tobacco smoke in a particular space
or environment in order to create a
100% smoke free environment
indoor workplaces
indoor public places
public transport
public outdoor places: entry ways,
outdoor venues
 Important
Considerations
Smoke-free laws benefit overall conditions
such as air quality, environment, health, and
reduces smoking.
Smoke-free air acts have been enforced in
indoor workplaces, public transportation,
beaches, and parks.
Smoke-free air acts reduce smoking by 3.8%
in Canada, United States, Australia and
Germany in 2002, which is about 3.1 fewer
cigarettes smoked per day per smoker.
 Getting Started
http://
www.no-smoke.org/goingsmokefree.php
Encourage smoke-free environments:
- In the home
- In the workplace
- Health care facilities have a shared interest to
create a safe environment
- Lowering of business costs (maintenance
expenses, labor costs)
- In your community
 Recommendations
Smoke-free air acts can be implemented
at:
schools
Churches
government facilities
restaurants and bars
hotels and motels
public areas such as beaches, parks, public
pools, and recreational facilities
outside of entrances and windows near a
building and within a certain distance
Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free air acts
Chuuks Example

Target Population: National/ Catholic Church

Members
Summary: Indoor Clean Air Act of 2011
After Chuuks Legislative building was completely destroyed from a fire
in 2011, a lot of the state policies had to be recreated and rewritten
Chuuk State Law No. 191-08: Smoking Act of 1991 was repealed and
changed it into a more comprehensive tobacco policy, the Indoor
Clean Air Act of 2011
Indoor Clean Air Act of 2011:
-indoor smoking, selling single tobaccos and tobacco products to
minors became illegal
Domino Effect: Catholic Churches in Chuuk started to prohibit their
church members from smoking in church grounds and prohibited all
Catholic Church officials from smoking and chewing
Currently: NCD Coalition recognizes the need for policy evaluation and
is looking towards incorporating policy assessments in NCD Action Plan
for years 4 and 5 of the NCD grant cycle
Pass and enforce model comprehensive smoke-free
air acts
American Samoas Example

Target Population: all Department of Health

employees
Summary: American Samoa Department of Health
(DOH) Employee Wellness Policy #13-01
October 2013: DOH implemented a policy for all DOH
employees relating to proper nutrition, physical activity and
tobacco smoking
Enforced Smoke-free Worksite became an extension of the
Smoke-Free Environment Act of 2010
Prohibition of smoking and tobacco use in all DOH owned
and/or leased locations/premises, including but not limited to
all internal and external areas, parking lots and building
entrances, as well as all DOH owned and/or leased vehicles
 Pass and enforce model
comprehensive smoke-free air acts
Yaps Example
Target Population: Yap State
Summary: 2010 State Law 7-75 Anti-smoking Act

A partnership with Yaps Tobacco Program, Substance Abuse

Program, Diabetes Program, Ministry of Health (MOH) and
other community organizations and Yaps NCD Program
Educated political leaders on the harmful effects of second-
hand smoking and looked at successful policies in other
regions such as Hawaiis anti-smoking laws
In 2010, the anti-smoking law in public areas and workplaces
was implemented
Yap modified Hawaiis 20 feet no smoking zone and made it
into a 50 feet no smoking zones in building entrances
 Pass and enforce model
comprehensive smoke-free air acts
Guams Example
Target Population: National
Summary: PL32-60: Ban of Electronic Cigarette Sales to
Minors
May 2014: Public Law 32-60 banned the sale of electronic cigarettes to
minors
Triggered by the increasing popularity of vaping or the use of
electronic cigarettes among middle school and high school, in addition
to the increasing propaganda selling electronic cigarettes as a safe
alternative to tobacco smoking
Guams Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) took
the prohibition of using electronic cigarettes to include all DPHSS staff
within all PHSS facilities
Currently, the Guam Non Communicable Disease (NCD) Coalition is
working on learning more about the contents of electronic cigarettes to
better educate the public, especially the youth, on the harmful effects
of these products
 Who to contact?
James Rarick
Technical Officer, Tobacco Free
Initiative
WHO Western Pacific Regional Office
Manila, Philippines

E-mail: rarickj@wpro.who.int