One of the many populations the CTFA seeks to protect from secondhand smoke exposure is Arkansas’ children. Secondhand smoke contains more than 250 chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, just to name a few of them. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling many of the same cancer-causing substance and poisons as smokers.
In 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that the only way to fully protect people from secondhand smoke exposure in through 100% smoke-free environments, such as smoke-free homes, and smoke-free cars.
After more than two years of hard work and three legislative bills, the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas, with the help from many of its partners, was successful in getting a law, Act 811 of 2011, passed to protect additional children from secondhand smoke exposure when in a motor vehicle. In 2006, the Arkansas Legislature passed Act 13 of 2006 that prohibited smoking in a vehicle when a child between the ages of 0 – 6 years is present. However, on March 30, 2011, Governor Mike Beebe signed into law SB 1004, whereby increasing the age limit in Act 13 of 2006 from 6 years of age up to the age of 14 years. The new law, Act 811 of 2011, increased the percent of children protected from secondhand smoke exposure in a motor vehicle from 37.3% to 73.5%.
Act 811 of 2011 is scheduled to go into effect on July 27, 2011.
We’re on the right track, but our smoke-free cars work is not done until all minors are protected from secondhand smoke in a motor vehicle.
No comments:
Post a Comment