New York City Council Extends Important Health Protections by Requiring Smoke-Free Parks, Beaches

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Feb 02, 2011, 05:09 ET

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

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The New York City Council today has taken another important step to protect the health of the City's residents and visitors by voting to expand the Smoke Free Air Act to include parks, beaches and other public areas. Today's action will further protect everyone's right to breathe clean, smoke-free air in New York City. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and at least 69 that cause cancer. It is a proven cause of lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory infections and other serious illnesses.

We applaud Mayor Bloomberg, Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley and the City Council for their strong leadership in the fight against tobacco use, the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and around the world. New York City is a global leader in the fight against tobacco use and has made significant progress by implementing higher tobacco taxes, a comprehensive smoke-free air law and hard-hitting tobacco prevention and cessation campaigns. Today's action continues the city's innovative efforts to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids