Electronic Cigarettes Banned in Public Places in Erie County

Roswell Park faculty and staff were on hand when Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz signed legislation that includes electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in the county’s Clean Indoor Air Act. The Erie County Legislature had previously approved the bill, which restricts the use of e-cigarettes in public places where traditional tobacco products are already barred.

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center experts testified in several public hearings about the harms of secondhand exposure to e-cigarette vapors. Researchers testified that research conducted at Roswell Park has shown that e-cigarettes are not emission-free. E-cigarettes emit chemicals such as nicotine, acrolein (which is commonly used as a weed killer) and formaldehyde. While the amounts generated are less than what is seen with traditional cigarettes, these chemicals are still present. Andrew Hyland, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park, says that just because e-cigarettes produce less poison than cigarettes do, it doesn’t mean secondhand vapor is safe.

Electronic cigarettes have already been banned in more than 100 municipalities around the country including New York City and Chicago.

Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager
716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org