Secondhand smoke takes the lives of 53,000 people each year and is a leading cause of preventable death. There is no safe level of exposure. Secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, more than 60 of which are known to cause cancer. 

SmokeFreeOhio in Jeopardy!

Ohio’s popular Smoke Free Workplace Law – a law approved by voters in 2006 and one that is supported by nearly 80 percent of Ohioans - is being threatened. Recently lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 346, a bill that would create exemptions to the law involving family-owned businesses, outdoor patios and private clubs. These changes would treat businesses differently and pick and choose which employees deserve protection from secondhand smoke. The bill undermines the will of Ohio voters and compromises the health of the general public. Contact your lawmaker today - urge them to reject Senate Bill 346 and keep Ohio smoke-free! For more information visit www.smokefreeohio.org.

Everyone is impacted by secondhand smoke. 

Short Term Exposure can cause:

• Eye irritation
• Throat irritation
• Coughing
• Chest discomfort
• Difficulty breathing
• The CDC warns that all patients with heart disease or at risk for heart disease, should avoid all indoor environments that permit smoking

Long Term Exposure linked to:

• Lung cancer
• Nasal Sinus Cancer
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
• Heart Disease
• Respiratory illness
• Increase in the frequency and severity of asthma attacks
• Cognitive disabilities in children
• Ear infections in children
• Low birth weight

What can you do to protect yourself and others from the dangers of secondhand smoke? 

• If you smoke, try to quit 
• If you are not ready to quit - try not to smoke around others