Frank Lautenberg: “I am introducing the Airliner Cabin Air Quality Act of 1996, which would prohibit smoking on international flights to…”

“I am introducing the Airliner Cabin Air Quality Act of 1996, which would prohibit smoking on international flights to and from the United States by domestic and foreign carriers. Mr. President, more than 50,000 studies have established the scientific evidence incriminating cigarette smoking as a direct cause of death and disability. Volumes of evidence also document similar health effects as a result of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. For example, in 1991, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health placed environmental tobacco smoke in its most significant category of human carcinogens. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that environmental tobacco smoke causes some 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 12,000 other cancer deaths each year. In addition, the EPA believes that 70 percent of the lung cancer deaths attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are due to exposures outside of the home. Environmental tobacco smoke exposure leads to coughing, chest discomfort, and reduced lung function in nonsmoking adults. While these symptoms may seem minor in nature, their effects on individuals can have permanent health and financial consequences.”