Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
U.S. Progress Since EPA's 1993 Landmark Report
In January 1993, the U.S. EPA released a landmark report1 on the risks from secondhand smoke
exposure. The report was the catalyst for progress that's since been made. The report
designated secondhand smoke as a group-A carcinogen, a known human cancer-causing agent.
The report also detailed the effect on children's health from exposure to secondhand smoke.
This fact sheet summarizes the national progress that's been made in reducing exposure to
secondhand smoke in the intervening 25 years since the report.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure
• By 2013-2014, secondhand smoke exposure among the non-smoking U.S. population was
25%, a dramatic reduction from 80% in 1991-1994.
Percent of Non-Smoking US, Population Exposed*
to Secondhand Smoke—NHANES, 1988-2014
Office on Smoking and Health (OSH)/CDC; data rounded (personal communication, May 2016; revised).
NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
[U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)]
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Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
U.S. Progress Since EPA's 1993 Landmark Report
In-home smoke-free rules
• By 2015, smoke-free rules in U.S. homes doubled to 86.5% from 43.1% in 1993.2
In-Home Smoke-Free Rules Across TUS-CPS Waves, 1992-2015
1992-1993 1995-1996 1998-1999 2001-2002 2003 2006-2007 2010-2011 2014-2015
TUS-CPS year
TUS-CPS: Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey (November 2017, Figure 7; revised).
[U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS); National Institutes of Health (NIH); National Cancer Institute (NCI)]
State and Local Laws*
• As of 2017, 25 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands,
had enacted statewide '100% smoke free laws covering all indoor areas of workplaces,
including all bars and restaurants.3
• Since 1993, 931 state and local 100% smoke-free laws have been passed that cover all
indoor areas of workplaces, bars and restaurants.4
*Data on !aws courtesy of the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation (ANRF).
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Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
U.S. Progress Since EPA's 1993 Landmark Report
U.S. 100% Smokefree Laws in Non-Hospitality Workplaces AND Restaurants AND Bars
American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation
As of January 2, 2018
Note: American Indian and Alaska Native sovereign tribal laws are not reflected on this map.
Territories and
Commonwealths
Commonwealth of
Northern Mariana
Islands
^
| American Samoa |
-sW-5-
W: 100% Smokefree Non-Hospitality Workplaces
R: 100% Smokefree Restaurants
B: 100% Smokefree Bars
Locality Type with a 100% Smokefree WRB Law
~ City
4 County
State and Commonwealth/Territory Law Type
100% Smokefree Non-Hospitality Workplace, Restaurant, and Bar Law
Law doesn't cover 100% Smokefree Non-Hosp. Workplaces & Restaurants & Bars
Federal Efforts
• As of 2017, a rule5 issued by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
requires all Public Housing to implement a smoke-free policy by July 31, 2018, The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that prohibiting smoking in
public housing nationally will save $153 million annually, including $94 million in
secondhand smoke-related healthcare costs.
• In 1997, an executive order6 prohibited smoking in federal buildings, while allowing
smoking in designated rooms or outdoor areas.
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Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
U.S. Progress Since EPA's 1993 Landmark Report
• In 1994, the Pro-Children Act7 prohibited smoking in schools, daycare centers, and other
childcare or educational facilities that receive federal funds and serve children under 18
years of age.
References
1 Respiratory Health Effects of Passive Smoking: Lung Cancer and Other Disorders, (U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA/600/6-90/006F, December 1992) (PDF)
2 The 2014-2015 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, (National Cancer
Institute, November 2017) (PDF)
3 Overview List - Flow Many Smokefree Laws?, (American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation,
January 2, 2018) (PDF)
[If the link above does not open properly, copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://no-smoke.org/pdf/mediaordlist.pdfl
4 Local 100% Smokefree Laws in all Workplaces, * Restaurants, ** and Bars: Effective by Year,
(American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation, January 2, 2018) (PDF)
[If the link above does not open properly, copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/current smokefree ordinances by year.pdfl
5 Smoke-Free Public Flousing and Multifamily Properties, (U.S. Department of Flousing and Urban
Development, 2017)
6 Executive Order 13058 - Protecting Federal Employees and the Public From Exposure to
Tobacco Smoke in the Federal Workplace, (President William J. Clinton, August 9, 1997) (PDF)
7 Re-Authorization of Pro-Children Act of 1994 ("PCA") Under the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001 ("NCLB"), (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, October 10, 2002) (PDF)
* * *
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