Protecting Our Parks, Playgrounds and Beaches

April 14, 2025-As spring approaches and Long Islanders begin to spend more time outdoors, it's crucial to address the significant health and environmental risks associated with secondhand smoke and vaping emissions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified secondhand smoke as a Class A Carcinogen, placing it alongside dangerous substances like radon, benzene, and asbestos. Smoking cigarettes and vaping have detrimental health effects, including lung damage, heart disease, and weakened immune systems.

Cigarette butts are a major environmental pollutant and the most littered object in the world. Containing over 165 chemicals, including cadmium, lead, and arsenic, they contaminate our waterways and harm to wildlife. These non-biodegradable plastics take decades to decompose and litter our beaches and parks. Within an hour of contact with water, cigarette butts can begin leaching chemicals such as cadmium, lead, and arsenic into the marine environment. Cigarette butts have been found in the stomachs of fish, whales, birds, and other marine animals, leading to ingestion of hazardous chemicals and digestive blockages. Cigarette butts not properly extinguished can cause fires and at beach clean ups they are the most usual form of trash found.

Children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of secondhand smoke. Their developing lungs absorb more pollutants, making them more susceptible to asthma, allergies, and other respiratory issues.

Secondhand e-cigarette emissions also pose significant health risks. These emissions contain harmful substances like nicotine, ultrafine particles, flavorings, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals.

Protecting our outdoor spaces from tobacco and vaping is essential for the health and well-being of our communities. Over 480 municipalities in New York State have already acted by implementing tobacco-free policies in parks and recreational areas.

Many Long Island communities have enacted such policies. Has yours?

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About Tobacco Action Coalition LI-The Tobacco Action Coalition of LI is one of 21 Advancing Tobacco Free Communities’ grants funded by the NYS DOH’s Bureau of Tobacco Control and administered by the American Lung Association. Our grant is comprised of a community engagement and youth action component, Reality Check, which works collaboratively to promote environments open to creating a tobacco-free norm as well as educating and empowering our youth to become change agents within their communities.