Secondhand Smoke Survey of Erie County Residents - November 2002
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American Cancer Society
calls for the protection of all Erie County workers from secondhand smoke
· Most non-smokers are bothered by secondhand smoke;
· Tens of thousands of workers are exposed to secondhand smoke while on the job;
· Tens of thousands of consumers report that they avoid patronizing smoky bars and restaurants;
· The majority of adults favor expanding the existing County smoking regulations to cover bars and taverns
Researchers at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Center for Health and Social Research at Buffalo State College are conducting a random survey of tobacco use among adults in Erie County. Highlights of the survey include the following:
· Nearly seven in ten non-smokers are bothered by secondhand smoke.
Among those who are bothered, the most frequent complaints include the
bad smell (90%), watery eyes (57%), coughing (55%), and nasal congestion
(50%).
· One in nine employees reported exposure to secondhand smoke in
their workspace in the last seven days. This translates into an estimated
36,000 exposed workers in Erie County in a given week.
· Nearly 1 in 4 residents reported they have avoided going to a
restaurant, bar, bowling alley, casino, or bingo hall in the past year
because of too much secondhand smoke. Specifically, an estimated 87,000
people have avoided going to smoky restaurants, and 63,000 residents have
avoided going to smoky bars and taverns.
· Overall, 63% of Erie County adults support expanding the current
smoking regulations to apply to stand alone bars and taverns, including
75% of non smokers and 22% of smokers.
