The U.S. environmental protection agency (EPA) has determined that tobacco smoke is a major source of indoor air pollution, and the surgeon general's 1986 report on the health consequences of involuntary smoking concludes that exposure to tobacco smoke places healthy nonsmokers at increased risk for developing lung cancer. Other health hazards of involuntary smoking include respiratory infection, decreased exercise tolerance, decreased respiratory function, bronchoconstriction, and brochospasm. While all members of the population are truly at increased risk due to exposure to sidestream tobacco smoke, it constitutes a special health hazard for children, the elderly and people with chronic lung disorders.
The surgeon general labels smoking "the largest single preventable cause of death and disability for the U.S. population".
Employees subject to prolonged exposure to sidestream smoke in the workplace have been found in scientifically conducted studies to experience a decrease in job productivity and some have been forced to take periodic sick leave because of reactions to secondhand smoke.
Furthermore, studies have shown higher costs to the employer are associated with smoking in the workplace due to increases in absenteeism, accidents, costs of medical care, loss of productivity, and cleaning and maintenance requirements. A recent scientific study has reported that sidestream smoke from tobacco may cause a significant amount of cardiovascular disease in the United States and that the number of deaths from this cause may exceed the deaths caused by lung disease associated with sidestream smoke. Smoking in public places and workplaces is a major cause of fires and damage to merchandise and equipment as well as costly maintenance and repairs to furniture and fixtures.
The healthcare costs produced by smoking related ailments and diseases constitute a heavy and avoidable financial drain on our community.
More than eighty percent (80%) of El Dorado County residents are nonsmokers, and the number of nonsmokers is steadily increasing. Opinion surveys show that a majority of both nonsmokers and smokers favor restrictions on smoking in public places and places of employment.
Air pollution caused by smoking is an offensive annoyance and irritant. Smoking results in serious and significant physical discomforts of nonsmokers, and constitutes a public nuisance in public places and workplaces.
This chapter attempts to find a compromise that allows smokers to smoke, and others to breathe smoke free air.
This chapter is not to be interpreted as requiring restaurants or bars to provide a smoking area. (Ord. 1485, 12-10-1991)