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 […]
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 […]
Alcohol Consumption in Brazil IV: Drinking-Related Problems; Policy Responses
Sunday, October 14th, 2007At end-2005, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) resolved to undertake a regional effort to combat alcohol consumption under the guidance of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). As they do, they’ll likely study the efforts of Brazil to take the lead on the issue. This past spring Brazil adopted a national policy and not […]
PAHO Throws Down the Gauntlet on Trans-Fats
Friday, June 8th, 2007Temas Note: Although the task force report mentioned in these Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) press releases was actually approved several weeks ago, it was not formally released to the general public until today (07 June). Rather than release it quietly and let it be approved without much public discussion (outside of PAHO and Health […]