Objectives, Influences, and Impact

Governmental Objectives: The Surgeon General states that "secondhand smoke contains more than 250 chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic (cancer-causing), including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are inhaling man of the same cancer-causing substances and poisons as smokers" (accessed February 23, 2010).

According to the current Health People 2010 objectives as well as the proposed Healthy People 2020 objectives the general goal for the American people is to reduce the proportion of nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke especially "in cars when children under the age of 18 are present" (accessed February 23, 2010).

Political Influences: In our research, we have found that tobacco companies are known to give money to political leaders who have a voice in tobacco laws. This can influence the voting process for bills like HB 186. Tobacco companies clearly would not want this law to come into effect and by giving money to political leaders they can persuade them to vote against bills that would negatively affect the industry.

A Virginia special interest group called, GASP or Group to Alleviate Smoking in Public provides information to the public regarding bills in consideration towards eliminating smoking in public. Lobbyists from this group support the HB 186 bill with the belief that "no one should be forced into smoking secondhand".

Potential Impact of Policy Change: Should this policy be implemented in Virginia, nurses should be knowledgeable of all aspects so that they can educate the general population who may not know this information otherwise. In general, this policy change would help to decrease the number of children affected by secondhand smoke. This would also reduce their need for health care in the future as adults therefore allowing more money to be spent on diseases that cannot be prevented. Overall, it would save the health care system money in the future by preventing it now.

The Basics of HB 186

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), children's exposure to secondhand smoke is more detrimental than that of adults for multiple reasons. Specifically, the lungs of children are still developing physically, so they have a higher respiratory rate causing them to take in more of the toxins in the air. Most importantly, being exposed to environmental carcinogens are beyond the child's control. Removing themselves from a harmful environment may not always be an option. In enclosed areas, secondhand smoke will linger beyond the period of time that the cigarette is lit permeating throughout the area. Opening windows is not enough. Some of the health risks associated with secondhand smoke exposure are increased rates of lower respiratory tract infections, exacerbations of asthma and other pre-existing conditions.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Surgeon General's 2006 report noted that approximately 60 percent of US children aged 3-11 are exposed to secondhand smoke. The surgeon general reemphasized that it can cause premature death as many children are more heavily exposed to secondhand smoke than adults are.

The Virginia House Bill 186 is attempting to enact a civil penalty of $100 for smoking in a motor vehicle, whether in motion or at rest, with a minor under the age of 13. Delegate Joseph D. Morrissey from the general Richmond area is proposing this in order to protect minors that cannot protect themselves from harmful environments. The money which would normally be given to the Literary Fund, will instead be allocated to the Virginia Health Care Fund.