Media Advisory

Date: November 17, 2011

Contact: Kelly Elder
Sonoma County Department of Health Services
Public Health Division
(707) 565-6680
(707) 565-6619
Kelly.Elder@sonoma-county.org

Renowned Tobacco Scientist to Recognize County's Landmark Smoke-free Law

First provisions of New Ordinance Go Into Effect Dec. 3

What: News Conference
Who: Neil Klepeis, PhD
When: Monday, November 28, 2011 at 12:00 noon
Where: Board of Supervisors Chambers
575 Administration Drive, Santa Rosa, CA

On December 3, 2011 the first provisions of the County's new smoke-free outdoor areas ordinance will go into effect. To celebrate this critical step toward making Sonoma the healthiest county in California by 2020, The Board of Supervisors is hosting a kick-off event featuring Neil Klepeis, PhD, the renowned Stanford University research scientist who conducted a groundbreaking study on the negative health impacts of second-hand smoke in outdoor areas.

Dr. Klepeis will share his research on the impact of secondhand smoke in outdoor areas and housing and the importance of regulations that reduce exposures. Dr. Klepeis has performed several tobacco smoke air pollution monitoring studies, including a recent study on outdoor tobacco smoke. Since he began working in the exposure field in 1993, he has published many articles and reports on the nature of tobacco smoke exposure. Most recently, Dr. Klepeis has initiated research with colleagues in the behavioral health and policy fields.

In addition, residents impacted by secondhand smoke will be on hand to share their personal stories. Also available for interviews will be representatives from American Lung Association in California, American Cancer Society, Kaiser Permanente, The Northern California Center for Wellbeing, and Dr. Mark Netherda, County Health Officer.

A major component of the new ordinance ensures a healthy environment for all County employees and visitors by making County owned property 100% smoke-free. To support County employees who want to use this opportunity to quit smoking, cessation information, resources, and build-a-quit-kit stations will be set up in the lobby.

Other areas that will become smoke-free on December 3rd include:

• Outdoor public events;
• Entryways to public buildings;
• Services lines including bus stops, theater lines, ATM lines; and
• All common areas in Multi-unit housing.

Smoke-free outdoor dining goes into effect June 1, 2012. In January, 2013 all units in apartments, condominiums, and duplexes will become smoke-free.