§ 24-11-4. Purpose.
(a)
The City of Detroit hereby finds and declares that:
(1)
The U.S. Surgeon General, National Research Council, and National Academy of Sciences, report that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer in healthy adult nonsmokers, and can cause lung function and structure alteration to the fetus of pregnant nonsmoking women, and further, in utero exposure is known to predispose children to long term pulmonary risks. Separating smokers and nonsmokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, a nonsmoker's exposure to secondhand smoke.
(2)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen—a category reserved for known cancer-causing agents in humans.
(3)
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
a.
Finds that secondhand smoke poses an increased risk of lung cancer and possibly heart disease to people exposed in the worksite;
b.
Recommends that nonsmokers should not be exposed to secondhand smoke; and
c.
Indicates that simple separation of smokers and nonsmokers within the same airspace may reduce, but does not eliminate, the exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand tobacco smoke.
(b)
These studies find that tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air pollution and that breathing secondhand smoke is a cause of disease, including cancer, heart disease and stroke in nonsmokers. At special risk are infants, children, teens, pregnant women, elderly people, nonsmokers with long term exposure to secondhand smoke and individuals with impaired respiratory function. Also harmed are those with health conditions induced by breathing secondhand smoke, including asthma, lung cancer, respiratory infection, and decreased respiratory function, including broncho-constriction and broncho-spasm.
(c)
Accordingly, the City of Detroit declares that the purpose of this ordinance is to protect the public health and welfare by regulating smoking in public places and places of employment and recreation.
(Ord. No. 25-05, 7-20-05)