Roswell Park Supports Inclusion of Electronic Cigarettes in NYS Clean Indoor Air Act

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center joined a coalition of leading public health organizations calling for inclusion of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) in the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act. The organizations announced their support during a May 13 news conference in the New York State Legislative Office Building in Albany.

In addition to Roswell Park, the organizations are the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN); American Heart Association/American Stroke Association (AHA); American Lung Association (ALA); the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY); Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (TFK); League of Women Voters (LWV); New York Health Plan Association (HPA); County Health Officials of New York (NYSACHO); New York Chapter American College of Physicians Services Inc.; Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights; New York State Academy of Family Physicians; and the New York State Public Health Association.

Mark Travers, PhD, Research Scientist in the Department of Health Behavior and Director of the Air Pollution Exposure Research Laboratory at Roswell Park, said at the news event, “Research conducted at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center has proven that e-cigarettes are not emission-free, and that these emissions may pose health risks, especially to non-users. Electronic cigarette emissions include nicotine, the weed killer acrolein, the embalming agent formaldehyde, the irritant acetaldehyde and cancer causing chemicals. The spirit of New York’s Clean Indoor Air Act is to provide clean, safe air to breathe in indoor public places, and it makes sense to include electronic cigarettes within its provisions.”

The legislation, A.5955 and S.2202, would include e-cigarettes in the New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act, prohibiting their use in all workplaces, including restaurants and bars, and other places that do not allow smoking. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo announced his support for such a policy.