More than 45 restaurants in Fayette County are receiving certificates for their commitment to a clean indoor air environment.

The certificates are from District 4 Health Services and praise the restaurants for protecting residents from environmental smoke.

“These restaurants are providing a healthy setting for eating and they know that food tastes better when the aroma and flavor is undiluted by unnecessary toxins in the air. We congratulate them on their efforts to provide patrons with an exceptional environment for their dining pleasure,” said Jill Holmes Long, tobacco use prevention coordinator for District 4.

Long said environmental smoke causes many deaths each year.

“Environmental tobacco smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death and disease in America. The National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens has upgraded environmental tobacco smoke to the category of `known human carcinogen' so we in public health are pleased to recognize the efforts that many restaurants are making on behalf of the citizens,” she added.

The National Toxicology Program is funded by the federal government and releases its Report on Carcinogens every two years.

The report released earlier this year cites smoke generated from side stream and exhaled mainstream smoke of cigarettes, pipes and cigars as causative agents of cancer.

The report adds that there are conclusive published studies that indicate increased risk of lung cancer in nonsmoking women living with smoking husbands or working with smoking coworkers.

The Report on Carcinogens is a scientific and public health document first ordered by Congress in 1978 to educate both the public and health professionals in the recognition that many cancers are apparently induced by chemicals in the home, workplace, general environment and from the use of certain drugs.

Tobacco smoking, along with smokeless tobacco, also was added to this year's list. The report says the new listing of tobacco smoking is a result of the 1996 revision in the review process that allows for the review and listing of exposure circumstances in the report.

As far as smokeless tobacco, the report states that cancers of the oral cavity have been associated with the use of chewing tobacco, as well as snuff, which are the two main forms of smokeless tobacco used in the United States. Studies often indicate that tumors often arise at the site of the placement of the tobacco.

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