The Knoxville Little League has become the latest organization to adopt a smoke-free and tobacco-free policy, and is being lauded by the Marion County Public Health Department for doing so.

The Smokefree Air Act prohibits smoking in enclosed facilities within parks, but does not apply to outdoor areas such as athletic fields, playgrounds or trails. This can result in exposure to secondhand smoke and tobacco litter.

The Act also does not apply to smokeless tobacco, which means items such as e-cigarettes or chewing tobacco can be used unless a tobacco and nicotine-free policy is enacted.

The Public Health Department says secondhand smoke is harmful to everyone, and there is no safe level of exposure to it…and using tobacco products at a youth sports event sends the wrong message.

The Pella Parks Department has had its own policy banning smoking, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes on all its properties for over a year.