West Virginia’s Clean Indoor Air Program’s goal is to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of smoke given off by the burning end of tobacco products, (sidestream smoke), and the smoke exhaled by smokers, (mainstream smoke).
Secondhand smoke contains a complex mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals, more than 50 of which are known or probable human cancer-causing agents (carcinogens). People are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home, workplace, and in public venues such as bars, bowling alleys, and restaurants.
To accomplish our goal, the Clean Indoor Air Program partners with several agencies. The Smoke-Free Initiative of West Virginia is housed at the Monongalia Health Department and provides technical assistance on Clean Indoor Air, and tracks and monitors Clean Indoor Air in West Virginia.
The Wellness Council of West Virginia’s “Worksite Wellness Tobacco Policy Project†provides consultation and training to companies implementing written tobacco policies.
The American Cancer Society also works with businesses to support programs to improve employee wellness.
The West Virginia Library Commission - Tobacco Prevention Clearinghouse acquires, stores, and distributes tobacco prevention materials to the public.
The Clean Indoor Air program also provides funding for the Regional Tobacco Prevention Coalition Coordinator (RTPCC) Network.
West Virginia Division of Tobacco Prevention's policy on secondhand smoke: