Finally public health officials have taken the message from irrefutable evidence regarding the toxic effects of second hand smoke. U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona issued a comprehensive scientific report in late June concluding that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Smoking bans in public places, including restaurants and many bars have taken effect to protect public health. In Calabasas, California, a smoking ban has been placed on all public outdoor areas to prevent smoking outside public entrances. Permits are available to private businesses who wish to designate smoking areas on their properties. Why such drastic measures? Here are the facts:
1. There are over 4000 chemical compounds in second hand smoke; 250 of which are known to be poisonous (including hydrogen cyanide (used in chemical weapons), carbon monoxide (found in car exhaust), butane (used in lighter fluid), ammonia (used in household cleaners), and toluene (found in paint thinners)), and more than 50 have been identified as causing cancer.
2. Secondhand smoke is composed of sidestream smoke (the smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette) and exhaled mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker). Because sidestream smoke is generated at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, it contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in inhaled cigarette smoke.
3. 3000 nonsmokers die every year from lung cancer caused by environmental tobacco smoke.
4. An estimated 35,000 to 62,000 deaths are caused from heart disease in people who are not current smokers, but who are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.
5. Continual exposure to environmental tobacco smoke has been shown to nearly double the chance of heart attack.
6. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
Posted by Dr. Jennifer Stagg on September 3, 2006 08:17 AM
