New study raises smoking concerns

Some Nevada workers up in arms about health risks and effects of ballot initiatives

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The results of a new study on the effects of second-hand smoke on casino employees has verified what some say they've known all along: Second-hand smoke in the workplace is hazardous to health.

Research headed by Chris Pritsos, chairman of the nutrition department at the University of Nevada, Reno, shows casino workers are exposed to four times the amount of second-hand cigarette and cigar smoke as any other work force population.

The five-year, $2.5 million study followed 125 nonsmokers who work in casinos in Reno and Las Vegas. The study, Pritsos said, shows a direct correlation between second-hand smoke exposure at work and damage to employees' DNA.

The Reno study, if supported by further research, could lead the way to a total ban on smoking in hotel-casinos in the future.

Frank J. Fahrenkopf, president and chief executive officer of the American Gaming Association, who was once a three-pack-a-day smoker, said the possibility of a total smoking ban would impact different casinos in different ways.

"Some hotels have a thriving business with Europeans and people from Asia. Those people are heavy smokers," he said. "Other hotels may not have the same market, so they'd have a different view."

Fahrenkopf said the age and air quality of a hotel also should be considered, and newer hotels are "on the cutting edge when it comes to air conditioning systems and ventilation. We take the issue of indoor air quality very seriously to ensure both populations (smokers and nonsmokers) are treated well."

Asked about the possibility of a future class-action lawsuit, he said he could not comment. But should the Reno study survive review or if other research reinforces its findings, he said the industry would have to look into it, as all companies have a legal obligation to provide a safe working environment.

"Employees are the real capital, the value, in our business and are extremely important to us," Fahrenkopf said. "We're deeply concerned when it comes to their health and welfare ... We need to balance the needs and safety of our employees with the economic realities."

One of the workers pleased to see the results of the Reno research is blackjack dealer Jane Kilgore. She has been vocal about exposure to second-hand smoke in the workplace for years.

Kilgore, who works for Harrah's Entertainment, was one of those tested in the newly-released research.

"I participated in that study for two years straight, she said. "I had almost forgotten about it ... Every day I would ingest their supplements and at the end of six weeks I went to the office here in Vegas and filled out paperwork and gave them a blood sample. Like I said, this went on for two years. I was told it was about second-hand tobacco smoke and its effect on heart conditions. I had no idea it was about DNA damage. That was news to me."

Kilgore, who has never smoked in her life, has worked in a smoky environment before. She was a flight attendant for Continental Airlines from 1972-1984, back when smoking was allowed on U.S. flights.

"We'd take off and the minute that 'no smoking' light went out, everybody in the back would light up, all of them, all at once," the Pahrump resident said. "I remember coughing every time I walked through that cloud of smoke."

Kilgore said the second-hand smoke she breathes as she deals cards causes her to sneeze repeatedly and makes her eyes water. She also blames the fumes for making her sick to her stomach.

"As dealers, we're stationary. We cannot move," she said. "Why can't they at least put fans on the tables to blow the smoke away from us?"

Complaints from her and other dealers led to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) testing about 120 dealers earlier this year. Like the five-year Reno study, the employees who were tested were non-smokers and did not live with a smoker. Dealers from Paris Las Vegas, Bally's and Caesars Palace were involved in that two-day test. All shifts were involved and testing lasted for their duration to avoid lulls in the action.

The tests were designed to determine the amount of cotinine, a known carcinogen and cancer causing agent found in cigarette smoke, the 21 dealers encounter in an eight-hour shift. Its findings are expected to be released this summer.

"I can't wait to hear the results," Kilgore said.

Cotinine is only one of the by products non-smokers breathe. Second-hand smoke is known to contain more than 4,000 chemicals, 60 of them carcinogens. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control show second-hand smoke causes 8,000 to 26,000 American children to develop asthma each year, 3,000 people to die from lung cancer and 35,000 to die from heart diseases.

Being in a smoky bar for four hours is the same as smoking eight cigarettes, according to Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

The battle over smoking in casinos goes beyond health. Terry Price, who lives north of Summerlin, says she was targeted after complaining to management about second-hand smoke.

"I was a dealer at Caesars Palace for over 20 years," Price said. "One day I was dealing blackjack and this women blew a puff of smoke right in my face. I blew it away and she started screaming that I was (intentionally) blowing smoke in her face and I got fired for that."

Price has enlisted the services of a lawyer to fight for her job.

This fall, voters will likely find two initiatives on the ballot concerning smoking. Many voters haven't heard of them, but Tahirih Kempf isn't surprised. The Henderson resident is trying to get the word out so residents won't be confused at the ballot machines.

It took searching on her part to learn there would be anything concerning smoking on this fall's ballot.

"I knew if it had taken me so long to find what I was looking for, how could the average person hear about these issues if they weren't looking?" Kempf said.

One initiative is favored by the casino industry, led by Sean Higgins, president of the Nevada Retail Gaming Association and general counsel for Herbst Gaming. Besides Terrible's in Las Vegas, Herbst operates slot machines in numerous grocery stores and small retail operations.

The initiative is referred to as the Responsibly Protect Nevadans From Second-Hand Smoke Act. Critics say it largely contains current state laws on smoking restrictions. Smoking would be allowed in casino restaurants and in areas of bars and other restaurants where seating is restricted to people 21 and older. Smoking also would be allowed in slot machine areas of grocery and convenience stores.

"They (casinos) paid people to go out and get signatures for their petition," Price said. "They let the people think it was the initiative to ban smoking in casinos but it wasn't. With their ballot initiative, if there's one slot machine in there, then people can smoke. So, with their initiative, basically nothing will change."

The other initiative is called the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act petition because it follows standards set forth by that act. That initiative is more restrictive and is lauded by groups like the Nevada State Medical Association, American Lung Association, local chapters of the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, Nevadans for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Academy of Family Physicians.

The Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act would eliminate smoking on school grounds, in day-care centers, shopping malls, video arcades and grocery and convenience stores. It also bans smoking in bars that serve food and in restaurants. Smoking still would be permitted in the casino's gaming areas.

In the April 11 Las Vegas Review-Journal, Higgins said the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act has confusing language that could end up prohibiting smoking in hotels. He said tourists want the freedom to smoke.

Inclusion of the Clean Indoor Air Act initiative in this fall's election is being fought by the supporters of the casino-backed initiative. During hearings held in Carson City last year before the Assembly Judiciary Committee, gaming, tavern and restaurant representatives testified their businesses would be devastated if the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act petition found its way into law.

As of press time, the act still was awaiting a decision from a judge before it definitely gets a spot on the November ballot.

Hopeful that the more-restrictive initiative will go before voters, Kempf does her part by striking up conversations with people whenever she can. She passes out buy-one-get-one-free meal coupons, good only at smoke-free restaurants. The coupon booklets are available at no charge at the Health District.

"No one that I talk to in the public even knows about these ballot initiatives," Kempf said.

Although many residents tell her they are nonsmokers, not everyone welcomes the possibility for smoke-free areas as enthusiastically as she does. Their concerns, she said, are based on economics.

"Many people are so pro-casino here," Kempf said. "They cling to smoking as though if it were banned, Vegas would close up forever ... If Vegas becomes smoke-free there is nothing standing in the way of this whole country being smoke-free."