On behalf of the Story County Tobacco Task Force, I commend the Memorial Union Board of Directors for its Feb. 25 decision to make all its hotel rooms smoke-free.

Thank you for recognizing the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke and protecting the health of both the Memorial Union staff and hotel guests. Secondhand smoke is a major cause of chronic illness and disability such as emphysema, asthma and respiratory infection. A recent study determined that even a half-hour of exposure to secondhand smoke dramatically increases a person’s short-term risk of heart attack. This is a result of the immediate effect secondhand smoke has on the cardiovascular system of non-smokers. Other research shows that short-term secondhand smoke exposure “activates” blood platelets, making them sticky and starting the process of arteriosclerosis (blockage of the heart’s arteries.)

Non-smokers regularly exposed to secondhand smoke suffer death rates 30 percent higher than those not exposed. Studies show that smoke-free policies, such as the one the union board has adopted, work. They protect the health of non-smokers, who make up over 75 percent of Iowa’s population, and also benefit employers.

In Ames, hotel employees are often ISU students. Those employees who work in smoke-free environments are healthier, suffer less absenteeism and file fewer workers’ compensation claims. Employee turnover is less frequent, reducing the associated training costs. In addition, many insurance companies discount their fire, property and health policy premiums for smoke-free workplaces.

George Belitsos

Chairman

Story County Tobacco Task Force