RHA applauds Evanston for enhancing smoke-free law

Respiratory Health Association applauds Mayor Tisdahl and the Evanston City Council for including electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in their smoke-free law. Respiratory Health Association supports the amendment as a reasonable way to  protect workers, patrons and visitors from the unknown health consequences of exposure to e-cigarettes.

Seven years ago, we supported the original smoke-free ordinance in Evanston to protect people from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Our argument was “Everyone deserves to breathe clean air.”

Since its passage, the law has been successful and popular. We are happy to see it include new and potentially harmful tobacco products, as well. Since the original smoke-free ordinance, e-cigarettes have exploded in popularity despite the absence of scientific research on the health effects and some reports showing they are unsafe.

FDA studies show these devices contain detectable levels of cancer-causing chemicals; they have been proven to emit carcinogens and toxins in the air. Adding e-cigarettes to the smoke-free law eliminates the risk of any workplace exposure to these products and the vapors they emit.

This decision was an important one for Evanston. We have made great strides in changing the social norms around smoking and don’t want to take a step backward toward normalizing it. In addition, adding e-cigarettes to the smoke-free law eliminates confusion on enforcing the law.   

The argument we made for smoke-free Evanston several years ago still applies to today’s e-cigarettes: everyone deserves to breathe clean air.  

Eileen Lowery
Senior Director of Programs
Respiratory Health Association
Evanston Resident since 2007