The American Heart Association announced its support for Richland County Council's approval of an ordinance that broadens the county's smoke-free workplace protections to include electronic smoking devices and vaping products. The ordinance was approved on its third and final reading on September 15, 2026, and covers unincorporated areas of Richland County, South Carolina. The policy applies to indoor workplaces and customer-facing areas such as restaurants, retail stores and shared work environments.
Under the new ordinance, vaping is prohibited in covered indoor workplaces and customer-facing areas throughout unincorporated Richland County. The measure also creates a 15-foot smoke- and vape-free buffer zone around entrances and exits to covered facilities. These provisions update the county's existing clean indoor air protections to explicitly address modern tobacco products and emerging devices that produce aerosol.
The American Heart Association and public health experts emphasize that e-cigarettes do not produce harmless water vapor. Instead, e-cigarettes emit an aerosol that can contain nicotine, metals, volatile organic compounds and other potentially harmful substances. Individuals nearby can be exposed to these chemicals through secondhand aerosols.
The source notes that research has shown exposure to e-cigarette aerosol can contribute to inflammation and impaired blood vessel function. Those physiological effects are associated with cardiovascular disease, forming the basis for concern about involuntary exposure in indoor public places. Public health experts cited in the announcement state that secondhand aerosols are not harmless and that comprehensive indoor policies are the most effective way to protect the public from exposure.
Andrew Wylam, South Carolina government relations director for the American Heart Association — Columbia, praised the council's action, saying Richland County has again demonstrated commitment to public health by ensuring clean indoor air policies reflect current tobacco products and emerging health risks. Wylam described the measure as a commonsense step to protect employees, customers and families from involuntary exposure to secondhand aerosols and said, "Everyone deserves to work, dine, shop and spend time indoors without being exposed to secondhand aerosol."
Richland County Council Chair Jesica Mackey stated the goal of the update is to ensure that employees, customers and families are protected from exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol in indoor public places. Mackey characterized the ordinance as modernizing the county's clean indoor air protections and helping create healthier environments throughout Richland County.
Wylam added that the ordinance ensures people with heart disease, asthma and other underlying health conditions are better protected while maintaining clear, consistent standards for businesses and the public.
The ordinance establishes uniform standards for indoor behavior related to smoking and vaping in covered settings in unincorporated Richland County. By prohibiting vaping in indoor workplaces and customer-facing areas and adding a 15-foot buffer at entrances and exits, the county aims to reduce involuntary exposure to secondhand aerosol among employees, patrons and visitors. The AHA framed these changes as both a public health protection and a way to provide consistent rules for businesses and the public.
The announcement does not provide implementation timeline details, enforcement mechanisms or specific penalties for violations. Those operational details were not reported in the source article.
The American Heart Association described itself in the source as a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. The organization has been a leading source of health information for more than one hundred years, supports more than 35 million volunteers globally, funds research, advocates for public health and provides resources to save and improve lives affected by cardiovascular disease and stroke. The AHA cited its work in science, policy and care to advance health and transform lives daily.
The AHA thanked Richland County Council for its leadership in advancing clean indoor air protections and directed readers to heart.org to learn more about the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and secondhand aerosol exposure. The source also provided contact information for media inquiries (Maranda Williams, maranda.williams@heart.org) and public inquiries (1-800-AHA-USA1). The article included reference to AHA/ASA multimedia usage policy and contained organizational logo images; usage terms and downloads were noted in the source.