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Group blows no smoke
Jefferson City News Tribune
2/4/2010
A local group of concerned citizens wants to clear the air — literally.
After years of leg work, Smokefree Jefferson City — in conjunction with Cole County Partners for Clean Air — is holding its first public forum tonight, addressing the group’s desire to put a city ordinance into effect, ending smoking in all public buildings, including restaurants and bars.
On Jan. 19, the City Council was presented with a clean air study showing establishments that allowed smoking have higher levels of fine particulate matter pollution. Particulate matter can get deep into lungs and gather over time, causing irritation and other health problems.
The study noted the pollution that was found in smoking establishments was 16 times higher than the levels found at non-smoking establishments.
“Less than three burning cigarettes can create air that the EPA would consider hazardous,” said Stan Cowan, research aide with the University of Missouri and Smokefree Jefferson City.
As a non-smoker, Allen Tatman spent seven years working in his bar, Paddy Malone’s, and breathing in the air that was ultimately irritating his chronic asthma.
When he decided to take his business smoke-free in June 2007, he recognized the risks to his business and said he was lucky to have options.
“We have a unique situation — we were able to put a deck with a roof and put heaters under it in winter and fans in the summer,” he said.
While Tatman knew of the risks, he said it was his decision. And while he has gained and lost customers as they adjusted to the change in atmosphere, he said the idea of an ordinance forcing bars and restaurants to go smoke-free is not a good idea.
“It will mean some places will have to close the doors,” he said. “It worked for us, but it will not work for everyone. And I knew the risks. I had a choice. By making an ordinance, you will be closing some places down.”
Business listings in Columbia show that while some businesses have closed, more have opened.
Cowan said he would expect similar happenings in the Capital City if a ban were put in place.
Felicia Poettgen, project coordinator with Smokefree Jefferson City, said the group simply wants a healthier Jefferson City and believes the ordinance would open the doors to do so.
Cowan points to a study that showed there was a 30 percent drop in fatal heart attacks after Massachusetts passed a statewide smoking ban.
“Secondhand smoke dramatically increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmokers and can be controlled only by making indoor spaces smoke-free,” said U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona in a 2006 report.
“The science is irrefutable,” Cowan said. “We all know the dangers — they have been spelled out for us — the dangers are very real when we talk about secondhand smoke.”
While Tatman knows and understands the healthrelated risks of secondhand smoke, he says that unless the government is going to handle our health care, then they should not have a say so in smoking bans.
“If state or federal government was running our health care, then they could have a right to ban smoking in certain places,” he said. “The city should not be doing that.”
Knowing there will be much ongoing debate about the issue, the group hopes to spread awareness and provide a forum for like-minded people to discuss their plans and future wishes.
Smokefree Jefferson City is hosting a Let’s Clear the Air reception from 6-8 p.m. today at the Summit Lake Winery, 1707 S. Summit Drive, Holts Summit.
For more information about Smokefree Jefferson City, visit www.SmokfreeJC. com.
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