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Second-hand Smoke kills
Tobacco smoke
is a major indoor air pollutant. |
What is
second-hand smoke?
Second-hand smoke is a complex mix of thousands of chemicals.
It includes irritants and systemic poisons such as hydrogen cyanide,
sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and formaldehyde. At
least 40 substances in second-hand smoke have been shown to cause
cancer including arsenic, chromium, nitrosamines, and benzo(a)pyrene.
SHS
results from the "sidestream" smoke that comes from the burning
tip of a cigarette and the "mainstream" smoke that is exhaled
by the smoker. Second-hand smoking, passive smoking, involuntary
smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) all refer
to the phenomena of breathing other people's smoke.
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| Second-hand
smoke is a real and significant threat to public health. It has
been classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
as a "class A" or human carcinogen. Supported by two decades of
evidence, the scientific community now agrees that there is no
safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. |
How
does second-hand smoke affect health?
Non-smokers who breathe second-hand smoke suffer many of the same
diseases as regular smokers. Heart disease deaths as well as lung
and nasal sinus cancers have been causally associated with second-hand
smoke exposure. Second-hand smoke also causes a wide variety of
adverse health effects in children including bronchitis and pneumonia,
development and exacerbation of asthma, and middle ear infections
("glue ear"), which is the most common cause of deafness in children.
Exposure of non-smoking women to second-hand smoke during pregnancy
reduces fetal growth, and postnatal exposure of infants to second-hand
smoke greatly increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS). Tobacco smoke also causes immediate effects such as eye
and nasal irritation, headache, sore throat, dizziness, nausea,
cough, and respiratory problems.
Are well-ventilated non-smoking sections the answer?
No. Although good ventilation can help reduce the irritability of
smoke, it does not eliminate its poisonous components. When smoking
sections share ventilation with non-smoking areas, the smoke is
dispersed everywhere. Smoking sections only help protect non-smokers
when they are completely enclosed, have a separate ventilation system
that goes directly outdoors without re-circulating air in the building,
and when employees are not required to pass through them.
So how can we protect people from second-hand smoke?
The government should enforce the Clean Air Act's
smoking ban in public places, educate people about the dangers
of second-hand smoke, and provide support for those who wish to
quit smoking. Employers can initiate and enforce smoking bans in
workplaces. Parents can stop smoking in the house and car, particularly
around children, and ask others to do the same. They can also ensure
that their children's day-care, school and after-school programs
are smoke-free. Individuals can let their family, friends and co-workers
know that they do mind if they smoke near them.
Are smoking restrictions hard to enforce?
Most of the public -- even smokers -- support smoke-free spaces.
Smoking bans in workplaces and public places work when people are
aware of them. The public should know in advance that smoking bans
are being implemented, and they should know the health reasons for
smoking bans. Good education and advance planning lead to self-enforcement
and success of smoking restrictions.
Do smoking restrictions hurt business?
No. Most employers who go smoke-free save money by increasing productivity,
lowering maintenance and cleaning costs, and lowering insurance
coverage. Studies of sales receipts from restaurants and bars in
the US before and after smoking bans have found that sales usually
stay the same or go up after a smoking ban.
...then why are smoke-free places so rare?
The tobacco industry spends millions to fund misinformation campaigns
on second-hand smoke. Scientists and consultants have been hired
to not only confuse the public about the validity of scientific
data, but to also create doubt about the researchers who produce
the data and about the science itself. In addition to attacking
legitimate studies, bogus research projects that downplay the seriousness
of second-hand smoke are funded and promoted.
Tobacco lobbyists and lawyers deflect government regulation of second-hand
smoke, and this has been supplemented by huge tobacco contributions
to political campaigns. When money and misinformation don't work,
the industry promotes false solutions to control second-hand smoke.
Although evidence shows that ventilation is not an effective solution
to the problem of second-hand smoke, the industry continues to push
for this option, even forming indoor air consulting "front groups"
who downplay the risks of second-hand smoke.
A tobacco industry campaign to promote "courtesy of choice"
as an alternative to banning smoking in public places has been launched
worldwide. This implies that the serious problem of second-hand
smoke can be solved merely by smokers asking for permission before
they light up, or by having separate smoking and non-smoking sections.
Second-hand smoke is thus portrayed as a mere annoyance for non-smokers,
rather than as a health issue. The industry also funds 'smokers
rights' movements to create so-called independent opposition to
smoking bans. People concerned about second-hand smoke are then
branded as zealots.
Fortunately, tobacco industry opposition to clean air can be defeated.
Your actions will make a difference. Become a leader in your workplace,
your organization, your community, and your home. Speak up for clean
air and make your voice heard! Let's clear the air.
--- adapted from the WHO FAQ for World No Tobacco Day 2001 |
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