10 years of clean indoor air

Publication Date: 2015-12-08

• Author:Marissa Harshman
• Publication:The Columbian

Public health officials across the state are celebrating 10 years of clean indoor air today.

On Dec. 8, 2005, the state’s Smoking in Public Places law went into effect, banning smoking in all indoor workplaces and public places, including restaurants, bars and non-tribal casinos.

The move made Washington just the 10th state to implement a comprehensive smoke-free indoor air law. Today, 24 states have similar laws in place.

In Washington, the change led to a significant decrease in secondhand smoking exposure and smoking rates, according to health officials.

"Indoor air is cleaner. This law protects health by reducing exposure to harmful secondhand smoke in places that previously allowed smoking," said Theresa Cross, a health educator at Clark County Public Health, in a news release. "A big policy change like SIPP also helps lower smoking rates by making smoking less convenient and less likely to be copied by others, especially youth."..