14.08.2012

Swiss TPH clearly supports the Initiative "Schutz vor Passivrauchen", launched by the Swiss Lung Association

In contrast to countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Ireland and many others, the Swiss federal law (implemented in May 2010) does still not protect all workers from second hand smoke exposure. The law has an exemption for the hospitality business where owners can opt for smoking facilities. Spain had such a law for 5 years to realize its complete failure. Since 2011, Spain has a comprehensive indoor smoking ban to protect all workers from passive smoking.

 

Only eight of the 26 Swiss Counties adopted the same strict protections. The Federal policy makers opposed such clear rules. Thus, the Lung Association launched an Initiative (referendum) that goes on ballot on 23rd Sept 2012. The initiative requests a comprehensive ban to protect all workers – just like in the eight counties and the many countries.

 

Business owners should not be entitled to legally cause lung cancer and cardio-respiratory diseases among the work force. Scientists at Swiss TPH have a long-standing role in research on the health effects of second hand smoke. The evidence for adverse health effects of passive smoking is scientifically proven. To keep indoor work places smoke free is a very simple, science-based policy.

 

Swiss TPH clearly supports the Initiative and hopes a majority of all Counties and voters will say YES.

 

Swiss TPH is a smoke free employer since 1998.

 

More information on the German page

 
Links

 

Swiss TPH scientists are engaged in research about the health effects of second hand smoke since many years. Below is the list of the related publications:

 

1. De Marco et al (ECRHS). Thorax 2004: An international survey of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in young adults according to GOLD stages.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14760151


2. Felber et al (SAPALDIA) Int J Epidemiol 2007: Effects of passive smoking on heart rate variability, heart rate and blood pressure: an observational study.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17440032


3. Gerbase et al (SAPALDIA), AJRCCM 2006: Respiratory effects of environmental tobacco exposure are enhanced by bronchial hyperreactivity.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16931633


4. Hajnal BL et al (SCARPOL) Schweiz Med Wochenschr 1999: Effect of environmental tobacco smoke exposure on respiratory symptoms in children. SCARPOL Team. Swiss Study on Childhood Allergy and Respiratory Symptoms with Respect to Air Pollution, Climate and Pollen.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10407946


5. Huss et al ; Indoor Air 2010: Fine particulate matter measurements in Swiss restaurants, cafés and bars: what is the effect of spatial separation between smoking and non-smoking areas?

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19958392


6. Jayet et al (SAPALDIA) Scand J Work Environ Health. 2005: Passive smoking exposure among adults and the dynamics of respiratory symptoms in a prospective multicenter cohort study: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16425588


7. Koistinen et al, Scand J Work Env H 2004: Sources of fine particulate matter in personal exposures and residential indoor, residential outdoor and workplace microenvironments in the Helsinki phase of the EXPOLIS study.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15487684


8. Künzli et al Tobacco Control 2004: Smoke-free cafe in an unregulated European city: highly welcomed and economically successful.  

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12958388


9. Künzli etl al (SAPALDIA) Soz Präventivmed 2000: Association of environmental tobacco smoke at work and forced expiratory lung function among never smoking asthmatics and non-asthmatics. The SAPALDIA-Team. Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Disease in Adults.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11081239


10. Künzli N. Eur Respir J 2002. The public health relevance of air pollution abatement. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12166570


11. Leuenberger et al (SAPALDIA) AJRCCM 1994: Passive smoking exposure in adults and chronic respiratory symptoms (SAPALDIA Study). Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults, SAPALDIA Team

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7952544


12. Probst-Hensch N et al (SAPALDIA), Environ Health Perspect 2008: Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms, passive smoking, obesity, and heart rate variability in nonsmokers

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19057702


13. Röösli et al (COSIBAR). Report: COSIBAR-Studie bei Gastronomieangestellten: www.at-schweiz.ch/fileadmin/Daten/Tagungen/konf11_meddok_cosibar_d.pdf


14. Röösli M: Prog Biophys Mol Biol 2011. (Review) Non-cancer effects of chemical agents on children's health.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21906619


15. Senn O et al (SAPALDIA), Respir Res 2008: Circulating alpha1-antitrypsin in the general population: determinants and association with lung function.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18439253

 

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