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Ontario Premier's Support to Ban smoking in cars with children
Canada News-Wire, Tue 26 Feb 2008
Over 50 municipalities in the province have also called for a province- wide ban.
TORONTO, Feb. 26 /CNW/ - Ontario's doctors welcome signs of support or a ban on smoking in cars with children from Premier Dalton McGuinty and once again encourage his government to support MPP David Orazietti's private member's bill to implement a ban. Since the release of the Ontario Medical Association's (OMA) 2004 report Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke: Are we protecting our kids? doctors have been advocating to protect children from toxic concentrations of second-hand smoke (SHS) in vehicles.
"Today's indication from the Premier of Ontario that he is seriously considering banning smoking in cars with children is great news," said Dr. Janice Willett, President of the OMA. "Doctors have been working diligently to not only advocate for legislation to protect children, but to educate the public about the devastating health impacts of second-hand smoke in a car."
In December 2007, the OMA initiated a campaign to garner the support of municipal leaders to endorse a province-wide ban on smoking in cars with children. As a result of the campaign, more than 50 municipalities in Ontario have passed resolutions in support for a provincial ban. Since the OMA first recommended this ban, many other health-care groups have also joined the call to protect children from SHS in cars.
"We have seen a ground-swell of support from political leaders and health- care organizations, but more importantly, the public thinks this is the right thing to do," said Dr. Willett. "The majority of smokers and non-smokers see the importance of protecting children from the damaging effects of second-hand smoke in such high concentrations."
Studies show that even under the best-case ventilation scenario, with windows open and the fan on high, SHS concentrations in a vehicle are far greater than any other children's environment. Tests reveal that with no ventilation, which is typical of winter driving in Ontario, SHS particle levels can be up to 60 times higher than in a smoke-free home.
For children, the risks associated with SHS include respiratory illnesses (asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia), middle ear disease, lower respiratory tract infections, as well as sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and increased incidences of cancer and heart disease in adulthood.
"The provincial government has been a leader in protecting Ontarians from second-hand smoke in work places and in public spaces," said Dr. Willett. "We ask that they take this important next step to further protect our most vulnerable members of society from the dangers of second-hand smoke."
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