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EPA ENCOURAGES PARENTS TO TAKE THE SMOKE FREE HOME PLEDGE

Release Date: 05/02/2002
Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Community Affairs, (617) 918-1064

Boston - In recognition of May as Asthma Awareness Month, EPA New England is urging families to take the Smoke Free Home Pledge, designed to protect millions of America's children from the risks of secondhand smoke in their own homes. EPA hopes to motivate millions of parents to pledge to keep their home smoke-free. Every day, 12 million children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their home. This can lead to serious health problems, ranging from ear infections and pneumonia to asthma.

"Because children have unique vulnerabilities - they absorb greater concentrations of smoke than adults do from the same exposure - we must use greater caution in protecting them from environmental threats to their health," said Robert W. Varney, EPA New England regional administrator. "One of the ways parents and caregivers can do this is by taking the Smoke-Free Home Pledge - simply choosing not to smoke, and not letting others smoke, in your home or anywhere children are present. If you must smoke, please go outside so you don't harm your kids."

Throughout the month of May, EPA will be focusing on environmental risks to children's health. Secondhand smoke is an environmental trigger of asthma, the cause of an estimated ten million missed school days for children in the U.S. It is estimated that up to one million children have aggravated asthma symptoms due to secondhand smoke.

To make your Smoke Free Home Pledge, visit EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/smokefree. EPA has also established a smoke-free hotline, 1-800-513-1157, to take pledges from parents. Everyone who makes a pledge receives a certificate and supporting materials to reinforce their commitment.