Tobacco Documents Online

LEVEL 1 - 4 OF 14 STORIES Copyright 1993 The Atlanta Constitution The Atlanta Journal and Constitution July 22, 1993 SECTION: NATIONAL NEWS; Section A; Page 6 LENGTH: 419 words PAGE ' 12 HEADLINE: NEW WARNINGS Government urges parents to ban smoking in homes BYLINE: FROM OU12.STAFF AND NEWS SERVICES BODY: Washington - The government on Wednesday sounded the alarm on secondhand tobacco smoke, urging people to ban smoking in their homes and press for anti- smoking laws in their communities. The " EPA firmly believes that the scientific evidence is sufficient to warrant actions to protect nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke, " said Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner. Ms. Browner, testifying before a House health and environment subcommittee hearing, announced EPA's new recommendations on secondhand smoke with particular emphasis on protecting children, who the agency says are at greater health risk for respiratory and lung ailments. t Two children also testified at the hearing,'including Max Graham, 5, of Atlanta. Both said they must curtail their participation in family gatherings and other events because they suffer asthmatic reactions near cigarette smoke. Max, accompanied by his father, pediatric pulmonologist Dr. Leroy Graham, said his asthma was severely aggravated when he visited relatives over Christmas. Max testified at the invitation of the American Lung Association. Dr. Graham also prepared a statement for the House panel. The EPA urged parents not to smoke or allow smoking in their homes and said nonsmokers should be protected from secondhand smoke in public places and at work. But the tobacco industry and its allies continued to press their claim that EPA's recommendations are based on a flawed and erroneous study. Ms. Browner on Wednesday released a new public information brochure explaining the findings EPA announced in January when it officially classified secondhand smoke as a serious cancer threat. Several tobacco*companies are challenging the findings in a federal court suit in Winston-Salem, N.C. The Justice Department filed a motion Wednesday to dismiss the suit. "Work with parent-teacher associations, your school board and school ('ministrators, commuriity leaders, and other concerned citizens to make your child's environment smoke free," the EPA's brochure says.

PAGE 13 1993 The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, July 22, 1993 - It also includes these guidelines, many of them already enacted by cities: - Restaurants and bars that allow smoking should designate smoking areas only "with some knowledge of the ventilation characteristics of the space, to minimize nonsmoker exposure." - Every company should have a policy protecting nonsmokers from involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke. - People should'urge their. communities to enact smoking control ordinances. GRAPHIC: Photo: Max Graham, 5, of Atlanta is accompanied by his father, Dr. Leroy Graham, a pediatric pulmonologist, as he testifies about his problems with tobacco smoke. / Associated Press ' ~