Ahrens David
University of Wisconsin-Madison's Carbone Comprehensive Cancer Center, USA.
New Solut. 2011;21(2):219-34. doi: 10.2190/NS.21.2.f.
Approximately 20 million nonsmoking workers are employed in workplaces without restrictions on smoking and are potentially exposed to secondhand smoke--a Class A carcinogen. These workers are largely in the service industry, in southern and western states and in non-urban areas. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) 1994 proposal for smoke-free workplaces (withdrawn in 2001) was attacked by many interest groups that may no longer oppose this protection. Federal regulation for smoke-free workplaces is needed for workers, who are not protected by state and local smoke-free laws. This policy could save thousands of lives each year, and prevent significant illness. Twenty-one states have "state plans" that would allow more protective laws. Of the 29 states under OSHA, 11 have comprehensive smoke-free statutes. Changes in the policy environment and in institutions such as unions, restaurant associations, and the tobacco industry since 2001 may improve the prospects for federal action and reduce disparities that currently characterize exposure to secondhand smoke.
大约2000万不吸烟的工人受雇于对吸烟没有限制的工作场所，有可能接触到二手烟——一种一级致癌物。这些工人主要从事服务业，分布在南部和西部各州以及非城市地区。美国职业安全与健康管理局（OSHA）1994年提出的无烟工作场所提案（2001年撤回）遭到了许多利益集团的抨击，这些利益集团现在可能不再反对这种保护措施。对于那些不受州和地方法规保护的工人来说，联邦层面的无烟工作场所法规是必要的。这项政策每年可以挽救数千人的生命，并预防严重疾病。有21个州制定了“州计划”，这些计划允许实施更具保护性的法律。在OSHA监管的29个州中，有11个州制定了全面的无烟法规。自2001年以来，政策环境以及工会、餐馆协会和烟草行业等机构的变化，可能会改善联邦采取行动的前景，并减少目前二手烟暴露情况存在的差异。
