Council looks to restrict smoking at athletic fields Law would confine smoking to certain areas BY MICHAEL ACKER Staff Writer SAYREVILLE - Smoking at recreation events where children are attending may be restricted if the council acts on a new ordinance next month. An ordinance restricting smoking around recreational fields where children are present will have its first reading at the next borough council meeting July 2. The ordinance was written by the council's recreation committee chairman, Daniel Buchanan. "He lives in the Morgan section of Sayreville, and within a block of his house is the baseball field for the Sayreville Athletic Association, which I run," Borough Council President Thomas Pollando told the Suburban. "He has been an umpire for many years and he was concerned." If approved by the council, the ordinance would prohibit smoking in any area closer than 50 feet from the boundary of any athletic field or event in the borough with participants who are under the age of 18. U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona issued a report last year that found that almost 60 percent of U.S. children between the ages of 3 and 11 are exposed to secondhand smoke. The same report concludes that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and that even brief exposure can cause immediate harm. "Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome [SIDS], acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma," according to the Surgeon General's Web site. Pollando said that smoking around children and the littering of cigarettes on athletic fields is unacceptable in light of the known health effects of secondhand smoke. He added that the recreation organization he runs has a rule prohibiting smoking in the area, but this ordinance would allow the borough to enforce the restriction. "We felt that this would be a great ordinance," Pollando said. "We are hearing so much about secondhand smoke and cancer." Pollando said that this ordinance is part of the council's effort to improve the quality of life for residents. In addition to the Sayreville Athletic Association, Pollando said that the Sayreville Little League, the Morgan Parlin Panthers, the Sayreville Leprechauns and other organizations had rules restricting smoking in the area during events and games. "We want to keep that away from the children," Pollando said.