Smoking Policies In The Workplace Fact Sheet

Workplaces nationwide are going smokefree both as states and local communities pass laws prohibiting smoking in workplaces and businesses do so voluntarily to protect employees and the general public from the proven harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Currently, 23 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed laws prohibiting smoking in almost all public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars; a dramatic increase from just six years ago when only two states had such laws.

What are the effects of secondhand smoke on employees?

• Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths annually, as well as exacerbation of lung disease in nonsmoking adults and respiratory problems in children. Secondhand smoke also causes 46,000 (range of 22,700-69,600) heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the U.S. each year.
• Restaurant employees are far less likely than other workers to be protected by smokefree workplace policies, more likely than other workers to have these policies violated where they do exist and are more likely to be exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke on the job.
• A study found that people who were exposed to smoke in the workplace were 17 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than those who were not exposed.
• Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Smokefree workplace policies are the only effective way to eliminate exposure.

What are the effects of secondhand smoke on employers?

• A 2005 study estimated the total cost of secondhand smoke exposure in the United States at $10 billion annually, $5 billion in direct medical costs, and $5 billion in indirect costs such as lost productivity.
• Workers have been awarded unemployment, disability and worker's compensation benefits for illness and loss of work due to exposure to secondhand smoke.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that $4 billion to $8 billion in building operations and maintenance costs would be saved if policies prohibiting smoking in workplaces were adopted nationwide.

What are the benefits of smokefree workplace laws/policies?

• The 2006 Surgeon General’s report on secondhand smoke concluded that: "workplace smoking restrictions lead to less smoking among covered workers."
  
• This helps to reduce the overall costs to employers while protecting employees from secondhand smoke.
• A 2005 study found that since New York’s state smokefree workplace law went into effect in July 2003, bar and restaurant workers are suffering fewer sore throats, runny noses and irritated eyes. Also, continine levels in study participants declined by 78 percent within the first year after the law went into effect.

What are state and federal laws regarding smoking in workplaces?

• Currently, 23 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed laws prohibiting smoking in most public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars.
• In addition, hundreds of communities have passed local smokefree workplace laws.
• In August 1997, President Clinton signed an executive order requiring federal buildings controlled by the executive branch to prohibit smoking although separately enclosed, separately ventilated smoking rooms were allowed to be established.

For more information on tobacco, please review the Tobacco Morbidity and Mortality Trend Report in the Data and Statistics section of our website at www.lungusa.org or call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).

Occupational Hazards That Affect Everyone

Occupational lung disease is the number one work-related illness in the United States; rankings are based on frequency, severity, and preventability, and this group of serious disorders fills all three criteria. The diseases that fall under this category are caused by exposure, usually extended, to irritating or toxic substances that may cause acute or chronic respiratory ailments. Smoking, as noted in that section, can act synergistically to increase the severity of these diseases many-fold. In 1998, there were an estimated 17,315 lung cancer deaths attributable to inhalation of carcinogens in the workplace.

The major substances and the conditions they cause:

Asbestos

This substance was previously widely used as an insulator and fire retardant; virtually unburnable, it was viewed as an unqualified lifesaver until realization of the fact that, in the lung, its microscopic fibers are lethal. Asbestos causes lung cancer; mesothelioma, an otherwise rare cancer of the chest lining; and fibrosis of the lung (asbestosis), a progressive disease involving scarring of lung tissues. All have lengthy latency periods, ranging from ten to thirty years. Exposures have involved mining, construction and demolition, shipyards, tiling, electrical insulation, paving, and brake linings, among other industries and products. Over the years, many millions of workers have been exposed to asbestos.

According to the Division of Respiratory Disease Studies of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 8,761 deaths in the U.S. were attributed to asbestosis between 1979 and 1992, and the annual figure has risen steadily during that period. Deaths attributed to asbestosis numbered 959 in 1992; the greatest number were in Pennsylvania (100), followed by New Jersey (80).

Textile dusts

Dusts from hemp, flax, and cotton processing cause byssinosis ("brown lung"), a chronic condition involving obstruction of the small airways, severely impairing lung function. An estimated 35,000 current and former textile workers have been disabled by byssinosis. Between 1979 and 1992, the condition caused 183 deaths; the largest number of these were in North Carolina.

Coal Dust

Coal dust causes coal workers' pneumoconiosis ("black lung"), an obstruction of the small airways leading to disabling respiratory impairment. Today, an estimated 4.5 percent of coal miners are affected; about 0.2 percent have progressive massive fibrosis (scarring), the most severe form of the disease. Between 1968 and 1992, more than 59,000 deaths were attributed to black lung disease. Almost all of these deaths occurred in males. In 1992, Pennsylvania had the highest number of such deaths; West Virginia ranked a distant second.

Grain Dusts and Other Farm Hazards

An estimated five million agricultural workers in North America may be at risk of lung inflammation due to bacterial endotoxins found in various grains, according to studies reported in 1994. Other potentially dangerous substances to which such workers may be exposed include hair, feathers, animal dander, and bacteria and their spores; respiratory responses to these particles may be acute or chronic, resolving completely or resulting in permanent disability or even death.

Silica

A form of this substance known as free crystalline silica causes silicosis, a type of pneumoconiosis affecting workers in mines, foundries, blasting operations, and stone, glass, and clay manufacturing (including the production of plumbing fixtures). About 1.6 million workers are believed to have been exposed, and almost 60,000 are expected to suffer some degree of silicosis. Silicosis substantially raises the risk of other lung diseases, particularly tuberculosis, bronchitis, and emphysema.

According to NIOSH, the number of deaths attributed to silicosis between 1979 and 1992 was 4,882, and the annual total has been decreasing over the past two to three decades. In 1992, 255 deaths were attributed to silicosis.

Other Lung-Cancer Suspects

Other agents, besides asbestos, encountered in industrial settings have been associated with lung cancer; they include arsenic, chloroethers, chromates, ionizing radiation, nickel, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons.

Allergens

Substances triggering allergic reactions may cause asthma attacks ("occupational asthma") in susceptible workers; the condition may account for as many as 15 percent of all newly diagnosed U.S. cases of asthma in adults, and it is the most prevalent occupational lung disease in developed countries. Such substances may also cause a condition known as hypersensitivity pneumonitis (lung inflammation). If exposure continues, it may lead to irreversible pulmonary fibrosis, a process that causes formation of fibrous tissue within the lungs and makes breathing progressively more difficult.

Many substances have been implicated in occupational asthma, including grain dusts, fungi, metals, resins, animal proteins, plant products, dyes, drugs, and a variety of chemicals. Among the many affected categories of workers: bakers, animal handlers, pharmaceutical workers, food processors, carpenters, painters, insulation workers, cleaners, electronics workers, hairdressers, and health professionals.

At Special Risk

Minority groups have been traditionally overexposed to occupational respiratory hazards. They are far less likely to hold managerial positions and are apt to be assigned to the "dirtiest" tasks in such industries as mining (coal, silica), textiles, demolition, and manufacturing involving hazardous materials (e.g., asbestos)-all of which have been associated with respiratory disease.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, for example, that of 1.4 million textile and apparel machine operators (1994), African-Americans, 12.7 percent of our population, account for 21.8 percent; Hispanics, 8.9 percent of the population, account for 20.0 percent.

Similarly, it is estimated that of 2.7 million cleaning and building service jobs, 22.4 percent are held by African-Americans and 17.7 percent by Hispanics. These pursuits entail exposure to an array of noxious chemicals, as well as to maintenance systems that are often the source of biological contaminants associated with critical allergic reactions.

In Colorado and New Mexico, Native Americans have been disproportionately employed in uranium mines. That fact has been associated with an inordinately high rate of lung cancer, due to exposure to radon byproducts (radon results from radioactive decay of radium, which is in turn a decay product of uranium). Results of a 30-year study of such workers were reported in the American Journal of Public Health in 1995; elevated risks were documented for lung cancer (up to 6.9 times normal), tuberculosis, and pneumoconiosis, and the heightened risks persisted more than two decades after exposure ended.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For More Information visit the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) web site at http://www.osha.gov.

Your Carpet & Indoor Air Quality

WHY IS CARPET AN INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROBLEM?

Like many other household products and furnishings, new carpet can be a source of chemical emissions. Carpet emits volatile organic compounds, as do products that accompany carpet installation such as adhesives and padding. Some people report symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation; headaches; skin irritations; shortness of breath or cough; and fatigue, which they may associate with new carpet installation. Carpet can also act as a "sink" for chemical and biological pollutants including pesticides, dust mites, and fungi.

WHAT ARE THE SOLUTIONS?

Individuals purchasing new carpet should ask retailers for information to help them select lower emitting carpet, cushion, and adhesives. Before new carpet is installed, they should ask the retailer to unroll and air out the carpet in a clean, well-ventilated area. They should consider leaving the premises during and immediately after carpet installation or schedule the installation when the space is unoccupied. Opening doors and windows and increasing the amount of fresh air indoors will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from newly installed carpet. During and after installation in a home, use of window fans and room air conditioners to exhaust fumes to the outdoors is recommended. Ventilation systems should be in proper working order, and should be operated during installation, and for 48 to 72 hours after the new carpet is installed.

Individuals should request that the installer follow the Carpet and Rug Institute's installation guidelines. If new carpet has an objectionable odor, they should contact their carpet retailer. Finally, carpet owners should follow the manufacturer's instructions for proper carpet maintenance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

For more information on carpet and indoor air quality, visit the US Environmental Protection Agency Indoor Environments Website at www.epa.gov/iaq.

Air Quality in Large Buildings, Schools & Etc

"Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities."

WHAT IS SICK BUILDING SYNDROME?

The term "sick building syndrome" (SBS) is used to describe situations in which occupants of large buildings experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building. In contrast, the term "building related illness" (BRI) is used when symptoms of diagnosable illness are identified and can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.

A 1984 World Health Organization Committee report suggested that up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Often this condition is temporary, but some buildings have long-term problems. Frequently, problems result when a building is operated or maintained in a manner that is inconsistent with its original design or prescribed operating procedures. Sometimes indoor air problems are a result of poor building design or occupant activities.

Indicators of SBS include:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms associated with acute discomfort, e.g., headache; eye, nose, or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty in concentrating; fatigue; and sensitivity to odors.
• The cause of the symptoms is not known.
• Most of the complainants report relief soon after leaving the building.

Indicators of BRI include:

• Building occupants complain of symptoms such as cough; chest tightness; fever, chills; and muscle aches
• The symptoms can be clinically defined and have clearly identifiable causes.
• Complainants may require prolonged recovery times after leaving the building.

It is important to note that complaints may result from other causes. These may include an illness contracted outside the building, acute sensitivity (e.g., allergies), job related stress or dissatisfaction, and other psychosocial factors. Nevertheless, studies show that symptoms may be caused or exacerbated by indoor air quality problems.

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT AIR QUALITY IN LARGE BUILDINGS?

Four basic requirements to maintain good air quality in large buildings:

1. Eliminate Tobacco Smoke

A smoke-free policy is the best way to protect the health of all employees. If that is not currently feasible, smoking should be allowed only in a separately-ventilated area reserved exclusively for that purpose, where no nonsmoker is required to enter or pass through.

Your local American Lung Association can provide materials to help companies develop and implement no-smoking policies. Call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).

2. Provide Adequate Ventilation

Guidelines for office buildings set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and air conditioning engineers (ASHRAE) require circulation of fifteen to sixty cubic feet of outside air per minute per person, depending upon the activities that normally occur in that room. If air circulation in large open spaces is hampered by partitions, raise the partitions approximately six inches off the floor.

To assure adequate ventilation in a modern building, adjustments can be made to the ventilating system. In older buildings, windows can be opened, ceiling fans can be installed to help circulate the outside air, and humidifiers or dehumidifiers can be added. Relative humidity should be kept between thirty and sixty percent.

3. Maintain The Ventilation System

Regularly clean and disinfect every part of a ventilating, heating or cooling device or system, including humidifiers and dehumidifiers, air filters, air circulation pumps and blowers.

4. Remove Sources Of Pollution

It is important to keep up to date with the chemical components and health effects from exposure to equipment, furnishings and supplies in your office. Change or remove sources that cause problems for workers.

Also, ask the building manager or other responsible person to:

• In new or renovated buildings, increase the ventilation rate for the first few weeks of occupancy. This will dilute possible emissions from new polluting sources.
• Alter or remove office equipment, furnishings, and supplies that continue to cause trouble for workers. Some formaldehyde sources, for example, can be eliminated by the use of a coating or sealer.
• Obtain assurances from the seller that new furnishings and equipment are free of irritating gases and can be returned if found to cause symptoms among workers.
• If the building contains an attached or underground garage, make sure the ventilating system operates so as to prevent auto exhaust fumes from entering the offices. Also, check air ducts for leaks.
• Locate loading docks or dumpster areas far from the building's air supply inlet vents.

Check cleaning agents for dangerous components. If possible, use non-toxic materials. If not, ventilate offices during and after using cleaning agents. If, in spite of these measures, workers continue to have symptoms, hire an environmental indoor air quality professional to test the air and identify the problem



References: American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=35987

Indoor Air Pollution Fact Sheet

Air pollution contributes to lung disease, including respiratory tract infections, asthma, and lung cancer. Lung disease claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year and is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Over the last decade, the death rate for lung disease has risen faster than for almost any other major disease.

• Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have respiratory diseases are at greater risk.

• Biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and animal dander promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work and school. In office buildings, heating, cooling, and ventilation systems are frequent sources of biological substances that are inhaled, leading to breathing problems.

• To help prevent growth of mold when humidity is high, make sure bathrooms, kitchens and basements have good air circulation and are cleaned often. The basement in particular may need a dehumidifier. And remember, the water in the dehumidifier must be emptied and the container cleaned often to prevent forming mildew.

• An estimated one out of every 15 homes in the United States has radon levels above 4pci/L, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency-recommended action level. Radon, a naturally occurring gas, can enter the home through cracks in the foundation floor and walls, drains, and other openings. Indoor radon exposure is estimated to be the second leading cause of lung cancer. A recent report by the National Research Council estimates that radon is responsible for between 15,000 and 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States.

• Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) also called "secondhand smoke," a major indoor air pollutant, contains about 4,000 chemicals, including 200 known poisons, such as formaldehyde and carbon monoxide, as well as 43 carcinogens.

• ETS causes an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 to 50,000 heart disease deaths in non-smokers, as well as 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infections in children under 18 months of age each year.

• Formaldehyde is a common chemical, found primarily in adhesive or bonding agents for many materials found in households and offices, including carpets, upholstery, particle board, and plywood paneling. The release of formaldehyde into the air may cause health problems, such as coughing; eye, nose, and throat irritation; skin rashes, headaches, and dizziness.

• Asbestos is the name given to a group of microscopic mineral fibers that are flexible and durable and will not burn. Asbestos fibers are light and small enough to remain airborne; they can be inhaled into the lungs and can cause asbestosis (scarring of the lung tissue), lung cancer and mesothelioma, a relatively uncommon cancer of the lining of the lung or abdominal cavity.

• Many asbestos products are found in the home, including roofing and flooring materials, wall and pipe insulation, spackling compounds, cement, coating materials, heating equipment, and acoustic insulation. These products are a potential problem indoors only if the asbestos-containing material is disturbed and becomes airborne, or when it disintegrates with age.

• Heating systems and other home appliances using gas, fuel, or wood, can produce several combustion products, of which the most dangerous are carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Fuel burning stoves, furnaces, fireplaces, heaters, water heaters, and dryers are all combustion appliances.

• Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that interferes with the distribution of oxygen to the body. Depending on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede coordination, worsen cardiovascular conditions, and produce fatigue, headache, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. Very high levels can cause death.

• Nitrogen dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that irritates the mucous membranes in the eye, nose and throat and causes shortness of breath after exposure to high concentrations. Prolonged exposure to high levels of this gas can damage respiratory tissue and may lead to chronic bronchitis.

• Household cleaning agents, personal care products, pesticides, paints, hobby products, and solvents may be sources of hundreds of potentially harmful chemicals. Such components in many household and personal care products can cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, eye/skin/respiratory tract irritation, and cancer.

Reference: American Lung Assosiciation
www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.35381/