The number of smoke-free college campuses in the U.S. has grown to at least 140 in recent years, USA Today reported Oct. 13.

Thirty additional campuses are smoke-free with exceptions, like designated outdoor smoking areas, and at least 500 campuses have smoke-free policies in residential housing, said Frieda Edgette of the group Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights.

In September, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) banned smoking in all 14 state universities. Other U.S. campuses to go smoke-free in the past two years included Bergen Community College in New Jersey, Montgomery College in Maryland, Fullerton College in California, the University of North Dakota, and Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

A major reason for the increase is the understanding that "secondhand smoke is a really big risk to health," said Erika Sward, the American Lung Association's director of national advocacy.

A spokesperson for Philip Morris agreed that individuals should be able to avoid secondhand smoke and that smoking be prohibited in some specific places, "But we do believe that complete bans go too far," said Bill Phelps of the tobacco company's parent group, Altria.

Students on Pennsylvania campuses had mixed feelings about the PASSHE decision. "I do agree with the overall point of it," said Clarion University senior Amber Stockholm, but she said that specific outside areas should be made available for those who decide to smoke. "A middle ground wouldn't be so bad," Stockholm said.