The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #71075

Sheila Brown, Office of Air and Radiation, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Mail Code 6609-JS, Washington, DC 20460, 202-564-9439, brown.sheila@epa.gov

Children are involuntarily exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, cars and other indoor environments. In the U.S., an estimated 27% of homes with children, aged six and under currently allow smoking, affecting approximately 9-12 million each year. Numerous exposure studies and risk assessments indicate that children may have greater health risks, unique vulnerabilities to certain conditions and absorb greater concentrations of smoke than adults. This exposure can lead to serious health consequences, such as, ear infections, pneumonia and serious chronic respiratory diseases, including asthma. Secondhand smoke is an important environmental trigger of asthma, with an estimated 1 million children having aggravated asthma symptoms.

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is dedicated to improving and protecting the environmental health of children by reducing their exposure to secondhand smoke. The Smoke-Free Home Pledge Initiative is a nationwide environmental health campaign. The campaign is designed to motivate parents and caregivers to provide a smoke-free environment for children. This voluntary program is promoted by a collaborative effort between EPA, state and local tobacco control programs and community-based organizations. This poster session will highlight several successful outreach activities and share information about materials available to implement the national campaign.

Learning Objectives:

The poster will: (
• describe the national campaign to reduce children's exposure to secondhand smoke; (
• discuss methods that effectively reached the public with the message to create a smoke-free environment for children; (
• identify where to access materials for outreach activities; and (
• learn the importance of national, state, local and community-based collaboration needed to implement the Smoke-Free Home Pledge Initiative.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Tobacco

Related Web page: www.epa.gov/smokefree

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Reducing Children's Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Program, Indoor Environments Division, Office of Air and Radiation -U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.