It has been announced by Mayor Bloomberg that he is planning to expand the smoking ban to the huge outdoor city areas, which are under the control of the Government.

The heavily crowded pedestrian plaza at the traffic circles will also be included in the areas, where smoking bans will be imposed.

A study, which was carried out last year by the Health Department, has been considered by the Mayor. It was found with the help of the study that a chemical associated with nicotine was found in the blood of 57% of non-smoking New Yorkers.

However, the percentage is 45 all across the nation. This is the reason smoking bans are likely to be expanded to the open areas.

"That means huge numbers of New Yorkers are essentially smoking against their will", said Dr. Tom Farley, the Health Commissioner.

Bloomberg has declared that it has become very essential to take a final step over the issue, as second hand smoking is also proving dangerous even in the open areas.

Along with the pedestrian plazas, as many as 1,700 parks, city-owned golf courses, 14 miles of beaches and marinas will come under the new ban.

After getting an approval from the City Council and public hearings, the ban will take at least 90 days to come into effect.