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Loading ...More Brazilian States Opt for Smoke-Free Environments
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009The push for smoke-free environments continues to march across Brazilian states — how long before federal legislators decide to extend such protections nationwide? Today the governors of the southern state of Paraná (PR) and the western state of Amazonas (AM) signed new tobacco control laws, joining Ceará (CE), Rio de Janeiro (RJ) and São Paulo […]
Ceará Limits Public Smoking
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009Today Ceará (CE) became the latest Brazilian state (after São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro) to severely restrict smoking in public areas. The governor signed a law that prohibits smoking any product, whether derived from tobacco or not, in “collective enclosures” except in segregated areas that have a physical barrier separating them from nonsmokers with […]
A Smokeless Rio?
Monday, August 17th, 2009If you’ve ever been to Rio de Janeiro (RJ), you know that it’s not exactly a nonsmoker’s paradise. Despite all the health warnings and studies issued over the years, quite a bit of smoking still occurs in public places within the state. Not for much longer. Or at least that’s the stated legislative intent of […]
Trinidad and Tobago Takes the Caribbean Lead in Tobacco Control
Friday, July 31st, 2009Trinidad and Tobago’s Health Minister presented a pretty tough tobacco control bill in Parliament the other day, and seems confident it will emerge as a law in just a few months with little watering down. It appears that Trinidad and Tobago will take the lead in CARICOM’s recent pledge to ban smoking in public places […]
Colombia’s Surprising New Tobacco Control Law
Friday, July 24th, 2009Colombia has just passed a law on tobacco that is, well, surprising, given the language of the original bill and how strongly the industry lobby fought against against any amendments to toughen it. Among other things, the new law: bans sales to minors of any tobacco product, and requires vendors to check for proof of […]
IMSP Finds Health Benefits of Mexico City’s Anti-Smoking Law
Thursday, June 11th, 2009Mexico’s National Public Health Institute (INSP) has released a study of health effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS, sometimes also referred to as “passive smoking” or secondhand smoke”) in bars and restaurants. The study checked 633 workers at 219 establishments in the the Federal District (DF, which comprises Mexico City and its environs) […]
São Paulo Study Shows Passive Smokers with Elevated CO Levels
Friday, February 20th, 2009A recent study conducted by São Paulo State (SP) Secretary of Health (SES) found that 35.9% of non-smokers regularly exposed to tobacco smoke have carbon monoxide levels in them comparable to those found in smokers. The study looked at 1,310 persons during smoking prevention actions promoted by SES during 2008 in open-air environments, such as […]
SP Governor Proposes Very Tough Smoking Ban
Thursday, September 4th, 2008On August 28 — Brazil’s National Day to Combat Tobacco — José Serra, the Governor of the state with the biggest market in the nation, São Paulo, sent to the state legislature a bill would ban smoking in areas of collective use, whether public or private. The bill looks to be one of the toughest […]
Cancer Agency: Smoke-Free Policies Work
Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008From the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): SMOKE-FREE POLICIES EFFECTIVE, SAYS INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR RESEARCH ON CANCER Smoke-free policies reduce the exposure of both adults and children, reduce the prevalence of smoking in adults and reduce the risk of heart disease related to smoke exposure. A resulting reduction in the lung cancer burden […]
World No-Tobacco Day 2008 in LAC: PAHO Honors Those Making a Difference
Saturday, June 7th, 2008From the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO): World No Tobacco Day 2008 Observed with Awards in the Americas World No Tobacco Day is being observed May 31 with a focus on tobacco marketing, and awards in recognition of outstanding contributions to tobacco control. The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments to protect the world’s […]