Four Positive Impacts After 10 Years of Smokefree Air in Iowa

July 1 marks the 10-year anniversary of the Smoke Free Air Act in Iowa, a smokefree law that protects citizens from secondhand smoke and improves community health.

The American Lung Association in Iowa recognizes this significant milestone and the impact it has made on Iowa children, businesses and the entire state.

“While many of us remember smoking in restaurants, in the workplace and even on airplanes, many children and teens have never and will never experience secondhand smoke exposure in these venues,” said Micki Sandquist, the executive director of the Lung Association in Iowa. “It’s a significant accomplishment to be 10 years smokefree here in Iowa. Several states don’t have smokefree laws, so many of their workers and citizens continue to be exposed to dangerous secondhand smoke every day. We have made tremendous progress, but have much more to accomplish.”

Since the passing of the Smoke Free Air Act, the state has seen significant impacts on public health, including:

• Decline in Smoking Rates: Today, the adult smoking rate in Iowa is 16.7 percent, which is significantly lower than in 2011, when the smoking rate was 20.4 percent.
• Increase in Smokefree Housing: There are more than 1,100 rental properties now available throughout Iowa that are smoke free and are listed on the state Smoke Free Homes registry.
• Increase in Tobacco-Free Work Places: There are over 700 businesses that are listed on the state registry with a Tobacco and Nicotine Free worksite policy.
• Cleaner Parks: There are more than 300 parks across Iowa that have a Tobacco and Nicotine Free policy in place.

To commemorate this milestone, local businesses are taking to social media to share what it means to breathe clean air. You can see these posts and share at Facebook.com/LungIowa.