Friday, Feb 4 2011 5:14PM
Selling tobacco products to underage teens is one of the things that caused Calaveres County to receive a failing grade.
Calaveras County has received a failing grade from the American Lung Association of California because of the rural area's lack of ordinances to limit cigarette smoke exposure, promote smoke-free housing and restrict sales, reported the Calaveras Enterprise.
Both the county and Angels, a city located in its boundaries, were given a F because they did not contain enough smoke-free outdoor areas and housing, and have not made serious efforts to reduce the sale of tobacco products.
However, city officials told the paper the county is hoping to promote rural community development by encouraging local businesses to promote smoke-free areas.
"While Calaveras County does not have a current ordinance in this area, the Public Health Department is working with local restaurants ... to adopt voluntary smoke-free outdoor dining,” county health officer Dean Kelaita told the paper.
Rural areas of California contain significantly higher smoking rates, reported the newspaper, which said 18.1 percent of Calaveras County residents smoke, compared to the state rate of 13.1 percent.
A lack of healthcare professionals in rural communities may account for the higher smoking rates. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the need for doctors in rural areas of the state is extreme, which may prevent many people from receiving medical or preventative healthcare.