Secondhandsmoke

In a gathering of two or more people, when a lighted cigarette is placed in an ashtray, the smoke will waft into the face of the non-smoker. Cigarette smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and death worldwide. Smoking-related diseases claim over 393,000 American lives each year. Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard for people of all ages, and is estimated to cause close to 50,000 deaths each year. There should not be smoking in public places because it affects everyone in the area, causes cancer to those who don’t smoke, and harms young children. Exposing non-smokers to second-hand smoke goes against their rights. Everyone makes a decision on whether or not they will smoke, so why must smokers choose to smoke around non smokers? Exposure to second-hand smoke also exacerbates existing respiratory conditions such as asthma. Studies have shown that second-hand smoke increases the frequency of episodes and severity of symptoms in asthmatic children, and it is a risk factor for new cases of asthma in children who had not had previous symptoms. Second-hand smoke is the mixture of “side stream” smoke emitted by the burning end of a cigar, cigarette, or pip and “mainstream” smoke breathed out by a smoker. It contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, like tar and nicotine that make up at least 60 identified carcinogenic substances. While smokers are entitled to smoke if he or she wishes, consideration must be given to the rights of nonsmokers who are exposed to that tobacco smoke. Second-hand smoke constitutes a grave threat to the fundamental right of all persons to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as well as to other related human rights and fundamental freedoms (Praetorius). Comprehensive smoke free air laws have been effective in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, increasing the number of people who quit and discourage kids from starting to smoke (Egendorf 77). Anti-smoking activists give smokers a stark choice: stop smoking or die! Non smokers who are around smokers at anytime are exposed to the same chemicals as a smoker. Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of the cigarette and the smoke breathed out by smoke (Egendorf 20). Would banning smoking in public places lower healthcare costs? Smoking bans quickly and dramatically cut the number of people hospitalized for heart attacks, strokes and respiratory diseases such as asthma and emphysema. Smoking is also damaging to the brain by causing memory loss, high blood pressure, and weight gain (Praetorius). Among the states that limit or ban smoking in public places, 43 restrict smoking in government working places and 23 in private sector workplaces. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States, and 90 percent of lung cancer deaths among men and approximately 80 percent of lung cancer deaths among women are due to smoking (Sullum 315). Smoking causes many other types of cancer, including cancers of the throat, mouth, nasal cavity, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix, and acute myeloid leukemia. People who smoke are up to six times more likely to suffer a heart attack than nonsmokers, and the risk increases with the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking also causes most cases of chronic lung disease. Tobacco smoke contains more than 70 different cancer-causing substances. When you inhale smoke, these chemicals enter your lungs and spread around the rest of your body. Scientists have shown that these chemicals can damage DNA and change important genes. This causes cancer by making your cells grown and multiplies out of control. Cancer occurs when cells in the body grow uncontrollably and form lumps of tissue known as malignant tumors. While there are a number of known causes of cancer, tobacco smoking is the greatest preventable cause. Tobacco smoke contains over 60 cancer causing chemicals, known as carcinogens. When smoke is inhaled through the mouth, throat, and into the lungs, the carcinogens in the smoke are absorbed through the lining of the lungs into the bloodstream. They are then distributed by the blood and the lymphatic system throughout the body cause cells in particular organs to multiply uncontrollably; that is, to be cancerous (Boyle). Researchers discovered that the production of a protein called FANCD2 is slowed when lung cells are exposed to cigarette smoke. Low levels of FANCD2 leads to DNA damage, triggering cancer. Cigarette smoke curbs the production of ‘caretaker’ proteins, like FANCD2, which normally prevent cancer by fixing damages in DNA and causing faulty cells to commit suicide. Who would want to smoke around their children while knowing the fatal outcome? Tobacco use during pregnancy is responsible for an estimated 20 to 30 percent of low-birth weight of babies, with also up to a 14 percent make up of preterm deliveries and some 10 percent of all infant deaths. It is found that babies who are under a year old are ones who are in the most danger (Sullum 310). 22 million children ages 3-11 and 18 million youth ages 12-19 are exposed to second-hand smoke (Egendorf 76). Smoking during pregnancy has also been linked to a host of psychological problems in children, such as attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and antisocial behavior. Cigarette smoking is a form of child abuse, with more young children being killed by parental smoking than by all unintentional injuries combined. Children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves and thus be exposed to the numerous adverse. It is said that one third of children treated at the hospital for respiratory problems such as chest infections and asthma got ill because their parents smoked when they were around. It is also said that if parents stopped smoking then their would be a drop in ear infections, bronchitis and asthma. Along with being bad to smoke around children it was found at a cancer center in Minnesota that cancer cells were found in the urine of babies whose parents smoked around them (Fisher). Many people believe that smoking outside eliminates the risk to children or others in the home. Yet this does not seem to be true. Reports show that nicotine levels are still significantly high in the hair of children even if parents smoke outside. This might be due to leaving windows or doors open, it might be due to smoke entering the door as a smoker returns inside or perhaps due to a child being exposed to clothes with smoke particles on them. Smoking outside is undoubtedly much better than smoking inside, but there is no evidence that it eliminates risk to children. The best thing to do is for a smoker to try and quit and not expose children to any smoke. Many parents who do smoke, comment that they do not want their children to grow up to be smokers. An added benefit of quitting, particularly for parents, quitting sets a good example for them to never pick up a cigarette. With being a good role model, parents who do not smoke have a better chance of not having children that smoke. With smoking being such a high discussed topic that is constantly changing with new studies being found along with more links to how smoking affects humans today. Smoking affects everyone in different ways whether its causing cancer, affecting a child, or intruding on a non-smoker. Second-hand smoke is still as affective as the one who is in instant contact with the cigarette. Smoking will always be an issue that wont be resolved. With hard earned dedication and laws that will pass every state should go to a non-smoking state with the exception of at the homes of the ones that do smoke.