LANSING – In an effort to protect Michigan residents and workers from the dangers of secondhand smoke, the Michigan House on Wednesday passed a plan co-sponsored by State Representative Mark Meadows (D-East Lansing) that prohibits smoking in virtually all indoor public places – including restaurants and bars.
"By passing this plan, we are drastically reducing the amount of secondhand smoke that our residents and workers are exposed to every day," Meadows said. "The dangers linked to secondhand smoke are scientifically proven, and thousands of people exposed to secondhand smoke die every year. By banning smoking in public places, we will save lives -- it's just that simple."
Secondhand smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause or exacerbate a wide range of health problems, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma, according to the American Lung Association (ALA).
The ALA reports that secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 46,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, and that nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at work are at increased risk for health problems.
The plan prohibits smoking in places of employment and most public places, including bars and restaurants. Those who violate the law would be fined up to $100 for the first violation and up to $500 for any subsequent violations. The plan exempts certain cigar bars and tobacco specialty retail stores, casino game room floors, bingo halls and horse racing tracks. Some form of smoke-free law has been passed in 32 states.
Secondhand smoke is especially harmful to children, the ALA reports. It is responsible for up to 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in kids under 18 months of age, resulting in up to 15,000 hospitalizations a year. It causes 430 sudden infant death syndrome deaths in the U.S. annually, the ALA reports. In addition, new evidence links increases in the number of asthma cases in children to secondhand smoke exposure.
"We had to ask ourselves a question: Should Michigan protect the public from the documented, harmful effects of secondhand smoke, or should we can continue to subject our citizens to carcinogens?" Meadows said. "By passing this plan, I feel that we made the right choice."