163793 **SESSION ABSTRACT** Clean Air Policies Sweep the Nation Improving Public Health Every Step of the Way

Tuesday, November 6, 2007: 2:48 PM

Bob Vollinger, MSPH , Tobacco Control Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke, remains a major preventable cause of illness and death. This session emphasizes the conference theme, Politics, Policy and Public Health and updates the science and policy on ETS by presenting case studies from different organizations and jurisdictions that overcame political challenges to adopt important public health policies.

Presenters will provide scientific findings on health effects of ETS and an accounting of comprehensive clean air policies adopted at the state and local level. In addition to a strong evidence base, another critical factor has been adoption of voluntary policies by numerous health organizations that stipulate they will only hold meetings in jurisdictions that have enacted comprehensive clean air laws. APHA was the first major national organization to adopt this policy in 2004, and NCI, NIDA, AMA and many others have since followed to provide incentives for legislators to adopt clean air laws.

Many businesses decided voluntarily to protect their employees and customers from the dangers of ETS by adopting smokefree policies. Westin was the first major chain in the U.S. to make all their hotels smokefree. Subsequently, all Marriotts in the U.S. have become smokefree. Although these companies support efforts to reduce the health consequences of ETS, they're in business to make money and have concluded that these policies will enhance their bottom line.

More than 50% of the U.S. population is protected by comprehensive clean air legislation. Important scientific, economic and political lessons contributing to successful of comprehensive clean air policies will be presented.

Learning Objectives:
Learning objectives: • To develop a better understanding of the scientific, business and political factors that have contributed to the successful adoption and implementation of comprehensive clean air policies across the U.S. • To build momentum for expanding these policies in other States and cities across the U.S. by informing the audience of the strong scientific evidence for these policies, demonstrating the vast public demand for these policies

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? Yes

Name of Organization Clinical/Research Area Type of relationship
NIH Smoking Employment (includes retainer)

Any company-sponsored training? Yes
Did the company pay your travel and lodging? Yes
 Were you provide you with slides as part of the training sessions? No
 Did you receive an honorarium or consulting fee for participating in the training? No
 Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission? Yes
Have you received salary support, retainer, or other monies to support your position as part of the research/clinical trials? Yes
 Have you served as the Principal Investigator) for the research/clinical trials? Yes
 Have the results of your research/clinical trials been published? Yes

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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