Scientific Studies Conclude Smoke Eating Devices Do Not Significantly Reduce Odor and Carcinogens
Jump to full article: Huntington (WV) News.Net, 2010-02-07
Author: Tony Rutherford Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Intro: Having imposed its no smoking in bars ban over a year ago, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department told HNN they have "no knowledge" of any establishments permanently shutting down due to economic or other conditions.
The County's most blatant offender, The Blackhawk Saloon, has in exchange for receiving its liquor license back agreed to enforce the policy.
Anita Ray as a spokesperson for Dr. Rahul Gupta, director, said, " We have no knowledge of it if any Kanawha County establishments have closed due to our Clean Indoor Air Regulation." As for an overall economic impact, the deep recessionary conditions throughout the economy places revenue lost due to the clean air regulation as a tough assessment. . . .
the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department representative indicated that ease and enforcement difficulties have "been a learning experience. CIAR depends on two things, our manpower and our ability to work with our county prosecutor." Ray said enforcement has become "easier." Statistic wise, the department has filed 26 magistrate court complaints. Over 5,000 CIA inspections have occurred in the last eighteen months.
"We have received less complaints over time and there have NOT been many repeat offenders," Ray said. . . .
"There may be studies on the different types of 'filtering devices' for second hand smoke, none of which have been proven to facilitate any significant benefit to the reduction of tobacco toxins," Ms. Ray explained adding, "Dr. Gupta has personally discussed this issue with one of the people who is an 'authority' on the subject and the general belief is that there is no was a filtering device or separated area can provided 'safe' air."
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