Why Smoke-Free Air Matters

Everyone deserves the opportunity to breathe clean air and live in a healthy community.

Secondhand smoke is more than a nuisance—it is a serious health hazard. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can harm the heart and blood vessels. Secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and other serious health conditions.

Protecting Heart Health

Heart disease and stroke remain leading causes of death in Mississippi. Smoke-free policies help reduce exposure to secondhand smoke and support healthier places where people can live, work, and gather.

Creating smoke-free workplaces, restaurants, and public spaces is a proven way to protect cardiovascular health and improve quality of life.

Protecting Children and Families

Children deserve the opportunity to grow up in environments free from secondhand smoke.

People with lower incomes—and especially children—are disproportionately exposed to secondhand smoke. Smoke-free policies help create cleaner indoor environments where families can live, learn, work, and spend time together.

Including E-Cigarettes

Comprehensive smoke-free policies should include all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.

While e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, they emit an aerosol that is often mistaken for harmless water vapor. This aerosol can contain fine particles and other potentially harmful substances that may be inhaled by people nearby.

Including e-cigarettes in smoke-free policies helps provide consistent protections and supports cleaner indoor air for everyone.

A Healthier Future for Mississippi

Smoke-free policies are one of the most effective ways communities can protect residents from secondhand smoke. They help create healthier places to live, work, and play while supporting longer, healthier lives.

As more Mississippi communities consider smoke-free protections, they have an opportunity to help protect heart health, support families, and create a healthier future for everyone.