Smoke-free Passes Unanimously!
On
January 9, 2012, the Monongalia County Board of Health
unanimously passed the most protective clean indoor air regulation in
the state of West Virginia! The effective date will be March
9th.
Smoke Free Mon County thanks every person who sent
an email, wrote a letter, spoke at a public meeting, signed a petition,
talked to business owners, and cheered us on! This is how policy
change happens! What a great day for public health! |
Smoke
Free Mon County is a coalition of citizens and groups who believe that
our community would be better off without the burden of tobacco smoke
pollution. We support enacting a comprehensive clean indoor
air
regulation that protects all of the public spaces and
workplaces in
Monongalia County. We believe that policymakers have an
obligation to
protect the health of all citizens from highly preventable illness and
death caused by secondhand smoke.
In
1991,
the City of Morgantown
passed a clean
indoor air regulation. The Monongalia County Board of Health
extended the regulation to the entire county in 1992. County
residents, workers and
visitors
have enjoyed partial protection from secondhand tobacco smoke since
that time. The regulation was last updated in 1999 when
provisions for
ventilation were added.
We now
know
that segregation and ventilation do
not completely eliminate exposure to the toxins in tobacco
smoke. Many
employees continue to be exposed in their workplaces, especially in the
restaurant, bar and hospitality industries. By today's
standards,
Monongalia County has one of weakest clean indoor air
regulations in the State.
It is
now
time to bring the secondhand smoke
discussion back to the county where it all began. Please take
the time
to explore this web site and educate yourself about the issues -- we
think you'll agree.
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