City of Bloomington Amends Smoking Ordinance 17-18 to Exclude Vaping in Public Places and Places of Employment

Bloomington, Ind. - The Bloomington City Council passed an ordinance on April 19, 2017 amending the City’s current Smoking Ordinance to prohibit the use of Electronic Smoking Devices in public places and places of employment where smoking is already prohibited. The City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department now will provide new signage to businesses within city limits to reflect the amended smoking ordinance. Any business interested in receiving signage (window clings) should contact the department at 812-349-3430. The American Lung Association in Indiana provided funding for the window clings, and there is no fee for the signage.

Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD), also known as e-cigarettes and vape pens, have emerged as an alternative to smoking. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes often emit no odor, leaving bystanders unaware if they are inhaling secondhand aerosol. ESDs emit a secondhand aerosol with ultrafine particles. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), “the aerosol emitted from e-cigarettes contains a variety of toxic chemicals, including some carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) and significant amounts of nicotine.” The AAP also states that, “parents should not use e-cigarettes around their children.” The aerosol contains at least 10 known carcinogens including formaldehyde and nickel. It also contains toxins including cadmium (commonly found in batteries), isoprene, nicotine and lead, which is known to damage the nervous system and cause blood disorders.

There are several ways to report a smoking violation within Bloomington city limits. Call 812-349-3850, email smokefree@bloomington.in.gov, or fill out a uReport on the City of Bloomington website at bloomington.in.gov. Smoking Ordinance 17-18 is also posted on the city website. When reporting, please report the nature, date, and location of the smoking violation. To report a smoking violation outside of Bloomington city limits, contact the Monroe County Health Department at 812-349-2543 or email mchealth@co.monroe.in.us. For further questions regarding the ordinance or signage, contact Nancy Woolery at 812-349-3851 or wooleryn@bloomington.in.gov.

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