CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT

Pennsylvania Clean Indoor Air Act

Act 27 of 2008, The Clean Indoor Air Act (CIAA) regulates smoking in public places and workplaces across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania with the exception of the City of Philadelphia.  Read More

Clean Indoor Air Act Application for Exception to Permit Smoking Final Exception Form 2 20 13 savable pdf

For Information on the Clean Indoor Air Act call 717-783-6600 or see Pennsylvania Department of Health 

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the Allentown Housing Authority for adopting a no-smoking policy!      

As of July 1, 2012,  the Allentown Housing Authority is adopting a No-Smoking Policy, which prohibits smoking in any interior common areas, including but not limited to community rooms, community bathrooms, lobbies, reception areas, hallways, laundry building(s) stairways, offices and elevators, within all living units, and within ten (10) feet of building(s) including entry ways, porches, balconies and patios.  This policy will apply to all residents, guests, visitors, contractors and employees.

Several Exceptions

What is a Type II Exception?

      Hookah Lounges

A Growing Threat to Public Health

Hookah (or waterpipe) smoking is gaining popularity nationwide, especially among urban youth, college students, and young professionals. Despite the growing popularity and increased adoption of state and local smokefree workplace laws, hookah bars remain largely unregulated. In addition, many hookah smokers consider the practice less harmful than smoking cigarettes.  This is troubling from a public health perspective since evidence shows that hookah smoking carries many of the same health risks and has been linked to many of the same diseases caused by cigarette smoking. As the American Lung Association and its public health partners continue to move forward to protect workers and patrons from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, it is vital that we address the health risks hookah use poses to youth and young adults, and close the loopholes in smokefree workplace laws that often exempt hookah bars.  Read More

     Cigar Bars

Cigar Bars are opening in increasing numbers, some of them offering gourmet food and special offers/coupons to entice people to dine there, portraying cigar use as a socially acceptable, sophisticated and relatively safe behavior. The social hype is enticing cigar smokers to smoke even more putting their health in more jeopardy than before, to say nothing of the employee’s exposure to hazardous secondhand smoke.

Cigars, like cigarettes, contain nicotine. A single full-size cigar can contain as much nicotine as several cigarettes. If cigar smoke is inhaled, there is as much nicotine and smoke exposure as smoking 3-4 cigarettes. And, even if you don't inhale, large amounts of nicotine are absorbed through the lining of the mouth. All tobacco smoke contains more than 60 cancer-causing chemicals, cigar smoke is no exception. Regular cigar smoking increases the risk of several types of cancers, including mouth, lip, tongue, throat, esophagus, larynx and lung as well as heart disease, oral and dental disease. Secondhand smoke from cigars contains the same toxic chemicals as cigarette smoke except at 3 times the intensity.  Plus, cigars burn for longer periods of time, which leads to more secondhand smoke in the air.

Blue Card Campaign

The Pennsylvania Alliance to Control Tobacco (PACT) is a statewide tobacco control coalition.  PACT is overseeing a Blue Card Campaign to inform state legislators that Pennsylvania residents want clean indoor air for all workers.  Complete two Blue Cards, one for your Representative and one for your Senator. Please mail all Blue Cards to PACT. Their staff will deliver the cards to the legislators.