Heather Selin, Pan American Health Organization, Regional Office of the World Health Organization, 525 23rd Street, NW, Washington, DC 20037, (202) 974-3383, selinhea@paho.org

Tobacco smoke is one of the leading causes of indoor air pollution. In addition to causing cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disease in adults, exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke causes a host of serious illnesses in children and in utero. Exposure of children to tobacco smoke in the home in Latin America ranges as high as 69% in Havana, 68% in Buenos Aires, 65% in Montevideo and 61% in Santiago. Smoke-free public places – including health care settings and schools - are virtually non-existent in many countries in Latin America. The presentation will cover the impact of smoke-free policies on children's health, strategies to promote smoke-free environments in Latin America, and the challenges and successes up until now.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of the session, the participants will have an in-depth understanding of the Smoke Free Americas Initiative as it applies to the environments where children live, study and play, and they will have knowledge of some innovative experiences and best practices in the Americas.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.