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Board of Health discusses smoking problems

By Grace Pecci - Staff Writer | Oct 18, 2018

NASHUA – City Board of Health members on Wednesday discussed the potential of banning smoking in certain areas.

Nashua Director of Public Health and Community Services Bobbie Bagley said some community members would like to ban smoking near public buildings. Board of Alderman member Linda Harriott-Gathright pointed out this could be a serious battle.

Bagley said her main concerns are areas near the Nashua Public Library and City Hall, where there are a lot of cigarette butts being found.

“In an ideal world, we would be a smoke-free city, but we realize we aren’t there and it would put a burden on the police,” Dr. Stephanie Wolf-Rosenblum said.

As a pulmonologist, Wolf-Rosenblum said the asthma rate is high in children.

“I’ve seen children die of asthma attacks,” Wolf-Rosenblum said. “To deny our children an opportunity to go to the library because they can’t walk through the door- this is inhibiting their rights.”

In response to Wolf-Rosenblum, New Hampshire state Rep. Jessica Ayala suggested seeing if there could be a compromise, by leaving it up to the public building whether there should be smoke-free zones.

“Sounds like the answer is, baby steps,” board Chairman Dr. Anthony Storace said.

In other news, Bagley said flu clinics in the area have seen a huge push this year as more and more people are getting their flu shots. Nashua

Environmental Health Officer Heidi Peek-Kukulka updated the board on various health issues as well. Peek-Kukulka said officials are hoping to see mosquito season winding down, as she said mosquitoes will not fly when the average temperature drops below 50 degrees.

Peek-Kukulka also said lead testing for water in Nashua School District buildings is set for July 1, 2019. She called this critical, but said it will be expensive.

Wolf-Rosenblum suggested looking into different ways to test the water without having to spend a lot of money. She asked if it was possible to test the valves that connect all the water to the buildings or look at older schools first, which would more likely have exposure.

Peek-Kukulka said she is trying to determine alternative ideas, because in newer schools, lead wouldn’t be as much of an issue. She said, however, lead is still being used in the industry in different paints and some plumbing supplies.

“We’re here to support their testing and apply logic to it,” Peek-Kukulka said.

In another matter, Welfare Officer Bob Mack said officials are trying to prepare their clients for the winter months and he said the number of clients is consistent. Mack said it has been difficult getting people into shelters because the shelters operate at maximum capacity.

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