No Smoking in Cars Bill Passes

A bill that prohibits smoking cars when children are present has passed in California.

SB 7 was passed by the Senate Health Committee March 28th to protect kids 17 years old and younger from breathing secondhand smoke when riding in cars.

The American Lung Association of California lobbied to get the bill passed.

In other environmental news, global warming poses a serious public health threat, reports the Association. Air pollution will worsen with warmer temperatures, research shows.

While ozone high up in the atmosphere actually protects people from ultraviolet rays, ground-level ozone is very dangerous to lung health. Ozone air pollution is a powerful respiratory irritant that can cause chemical burns on lung tissue. Californians already experience some of the worst air quality in the nation, with more than 95 percent of residents living in areas where the air is unhealthy.

Climate changes compound the health risks associated with global warming in many ways, according to the Association. Particle pollution refers to the fine particles that enter the air primarily from the burning of fossil fuels, wood smoke, and agricultural burning. Hotter weather makes it more difficult for people with lung disease to stay active, which is critical for maintaining health and living a quality life. Warmer days bring more food-borne illnesses, which can be devastating for people whose health is already compromised by lung disease, research states.

According to the California Air Resources Board, the annual health impacts of exceeding state health-based standards for ozone and particulate matter include 8,800 premature deaths, 7,100 hospital admissions for respiratory disease, 340,000 asthma attacks, 3,000 asthma-related emergency room visits, and 4.7 million school absences due to respiratory conditions, including asthma.

May is Clean Air Month. You can make your next vehicle a cleaner-fueled or high-mileage model, drive less by riding your bike, walking, carpooling, or taking the bus or train.