Tobacco

The evidence and the trends reflect that tobacco use, smoking and exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke are significant health hazards. Siena College desires to protect the health, comfort, and safe working environment for its faculty, staff, administrators, students, visitors, and vendors. It is Siena College’s policy to provide a tobacco-free environment in all College facilities and outdoor areas in full conformance with applicable statues including the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act (Public Health Law Article 13-E).  Prohibited tobacco use is defined the act of using tobacco product in any college facility or outdoor area, including chewing tobacco, the act of smoking, carrying a lighted cigar, cigarette, pipe or any other smoking material or device (i.e. e-cigarette, vaporizer (vap), hookah, THC oils).  It is also the policy of Siena College to prohibit the sale of tobacco products on campus.  While the College recognizes the difficulty this policy may cause for some members of the community, it is incumbent on the College to enforce the policy as stated. This will be done in a reasonable and equitable manner.  

Health Risks

• Hookah smoke contains more tar, nicotine and carbon monoxide gram for gram than cigarette smoke.  Hookah smoking is typically done in groups, with the same mouthpiece passed from person to person, increasing the passing of communicable diseases (such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, meningitis).
• The Center for Disease control identifies cigarette smoking as the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, or 1 of every 5 deaths.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that approximately 3,000 American nonsmokers die each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.
• The Center for Disease Control (CDC) found that studies of tobacco-based shisha and “herbal” shisha show that smoke from both preparations contain carbon monoxide and other toxic agents known to increase the risks for smoking-related cancers, heart disease, and lung disease.
• The Center for Disease Control also specifies that cigarette smokers, cigar smokers and hookah smokers are more at risk for some of the following diseases:
  • Oral cancer
  • Lung cancer
  • Stomach cancer
  • Cancer of the esophagus
  • Cancer of the larynx (voice box)
  • Cancer of the oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, throat)
  • Reduced lung function
  • Decreased fertility