TOBACCO FREE OUTDOORS

Tobacco-litter and exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor areas, whether parks, recreational areas, college campuses or worksites, can be hazardous, especially for children and wildlife. With thousands of people flocking to Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties every summer and autumn to take in the beautiful scenery, go to baseball camps, and enjoy outdoor events and local businesses, keeping the outdoors clean and healthy is essential. Making outdoor areas tobacco-free is a critical part of doing so.

BENEFITS OF HAVING TOBACCO-FREE OUTDOORS:

• Protecting park users from the harmful and damaging effects of secondhand smoke exposure – the U.S. Surgeon General has determined there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Reducing litter; cigarette butts are the most common litter found outdoors
• Providing an environment that supports tobacco-free living
• Being responsive to the overwhelming majority of NYS residents – 74% — who support tobacco-free parks, beaches and other outdoor recreational areas

E-CIGARETTES:

E-cigarette use in outdoor public areas is also unsafe. The aerosol emitted by electronic smoking products frequently contains a variety of human carcinogens such as formaldehyde and benzene, deemed harmful by the U.S. Surgeon General.