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.