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“
Action
on Smoking and Health (ASH) Australia is supporting a call for
increased local government powers to make the Tour Down Under cycling
race in January a smokefree event. ASH,
a leading national health group, says local councils involved in
hosting the international race in January 2009 should be encouraged to
make outdoor public areas smokefree in line with the national trend. The
move would be seen as lending support to Tour de France legend and
cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who has recently called for stronger
action to reduce smoking as part of the worldwide fight against
cancer. Armstrong
will compete in the Tour Down Under as part of his international
cycling comeback. His Lance Armstrong Foundation supports smoke-free
initiatives to prevent cancer. Says
ASH Australia Chairman and thoracic specialist Dr Matthew Peters: “Tobacco
smoke is a toxic air contaminant to which there’s no safe level of
exposure. “It
causes serious health harm, especially in crowded areas, and
especially to vulnerable groups like children and people suffering
from respiratory or heart conditions. And
Dr Peters, who has a a particular interest in the respiratory systems
of elite athletes, adds: “Tobacco smoke can also be a big problem
for elite athletes, who need rapid intake of clean air to function at
optimum level. Trace amounts of carbon monoxide from smoke greatly
impair their performance. “With
this event now only eight weeks away, quick action needs to be taken
by the South Australian government to ensure that this signature event
is the first of many to be truly smokefree.” The
Queensland government has already made many crowded outdoor areas smokefree under statewide law and is currently
proposing giving greater powers to local councils to extend smokefree
areas; and almost fifty councils in NSW have adopted smokefree
policies covering council-controlled areas including playgrounds,
sportsfields, public swimming pools and outdoor dining areas. See www.ashaust.org.au/lv3/Lv3informationLG.htm Comment: Media
info:
Stafford Sanders
ph. (02) 9334-1823; m.
0412-070-194
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Page last updated 13/10/08 |
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