Secondhand smoke in the workplace is a health justice issue. Everyone deserves protection from workplace health hazards, and no one should have to choose between their life and their livelihood.
Latinos/Hispanics are the largest segment of the population in the hospitality industry workforce, the occupational sector that has the lowest level of smokefree protection. Food preparation and service occupation workers are exposed to secondhand smoke and its negative health effects at greater levels than the general population.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during 2011–2012, nearly 58 million people were exposed to secondhand smoke in the United States, including 6.2 million Mexican-American nonsmokers.
Furthermore, during 2011-2012:
- 29.9% of Mexican-American children aged 3–11 years were exposed to secondhand smoke.
- 16.9% of Mexican-American adolescents aged 12–19 years were exposed to secondhand smoke.
- 23.8% of Mexican-American adults aged 20 years and older were exposed to secondhand smoke.
The National Latino Network has various tobacco resources.