New York City's Inclusion of E-Cigarettes in New York's Historic Smoke-Free Law Preserves The Public's Right to Breathe Clean Air

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Dec 30, 2013, 10:49 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Statement of Matthew L. Myers, President, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids:

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Today New York City has taken another crucial step to protect the health and safety of the citizens of New York by including electronic cigarettes in the city's Smoke-Free Air Act and prohibiting their use in the same workplaces and public places where cigarette smoking is prohibited.

New York City's smoke-free law has worked for more than 10 years to protect the right of all New Yorkers to breathe clean air. Today's action will prevent e-cigarettes from undermining this important public health protection. The long-term health risks posed by e-cigarettes and their emissions are still unknown.

E-cigarettes currently are not regulated; manufacturers are not required to disclose what is in them or in their emissions; and there are important gaps in our knowledge of their impact on the health of users and non-users. Nicotine and other toxic substances have been found in exhaled e-cigarette vapor. Several of the products include warnings that inhaled nicotine is "very toxic." Given the uncertainties about the health impact of e-cigarettes, it is prudent to prevent exposure by non-users in workplaces and public places.

Smoke-free laws also create an environment that encourages smokers to quit and discourages kids from smoking. Today's action will preserve these benefits.

This new law builds on New York City's strong and innovative efforts to fight tobacco use, which is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States and around the world. We applaud the City Council for approving this legislation and urge other cities and states to follow New York City's lead, including Chicago and Los Angeles, which are currently considering similar legislation.

We thank Councilman James Gennaro for sponsoring this legislation. We also applaud Mayor Michael Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn for their unparalleled leadership that has made New York City a global leader in the fight against tobacco.

A healthier city is one of their many legacies. We urge Mayor-elect Bill de Blasio and the new City Council and Speaker to continue this fight to protect children from tobacco addiction and save lives.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids