Lung Association Supports City University of New York in its Effort to Create Smokefree Campuses

NEW YORK, NY (01/24/2011)(readMedia)-- The American Lung Association in New York commends the City University of New York (CUNY) for proposing a measure that would expand smokefree areas on their campuses by 2012.

The dangers of secondhand smoke are well documented. Here in New York state, secondhand smoke kills an estimated 2,500 state residents every year. That's why we fully support efforts to make more of our public spaces smokefree, and that includes college campuses.

New York state earned an "A" last week in the Lung Association's State of the Tobacco Control Report 2010 for its strong smokefree air policies. But our work to protect New Yorkers from the very real threat of secondhand smoke is far from over.

We applaud CUNY for proposing to eliminate smoking on campus and hope that members of the board will vote in favor of this public health measure later today. We hope that more of New York's colleges and universities will join with CUNY and the nine other campuses in New York who have already gone smokefree.

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Now in its second century, the American Lung Association in New York is the leading statewide organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease. With your generous support, the American Lung Association is "Fighting for Air" through research, education and advocacy. For more information about the Lung Association, a Better Business Bureau Accredited Charity Seal Holder, or to support our work, call 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872) or visit www.alany.org.