Recent News and Articles on the Keywords: smoke + secondhand + 23,500  Related to the article below (Last Update: 8/5/2008)

New Albany closer to being smoke free New Albany Tribune, IN - Council members who supported the ban pointed to statistics highlighting the dangers of secondhand smoke, including the 2006 US Surgeon General?s report ... Smoking ban gets first OK Louisville Courier-Journal, KY - Harris said research has shown there is "no risk-free" level of exposure to secondhand smoke, which he said is linked to a range of health problems. ... Editorial: Dallas should expand smoking ban to bars Dallas Morning News, TX - Aug 4, 2008 They'll dismiss the dangers of secondhand smoke as overblown. And they will argue that no one is forced to patronize smoke-choked businesses. ... State Journal Kanawha bar owners plan to picket health department over smoking ban Charleston Gazette, WV - Aug 4, 2008 "Our decision was based on scientific evidence that secondhand smoke is dangerous," she said. "We can't continue to expose people to secondhand smoke. ... Bar Owners Protest Smoking Ban WSAZ-TV all 12 news articles » Tobacco Use a Deadly Choice for Millions Worldwide NewsBlaze, CA - Tobacco smoking affects not only the smoker, but also those in the vicinity of the smoker. Exposure to secondhand smoke, either at the home or in the ... Lexington council could halt indoor smoking in October Myrtle Beach Sun News, SC - "Secondhand smoke is not safe," said Councilman Ted Stambolitis, who doesn't allow it at his Flight Deck restaurant. "A smoking ban does nothing but help ... Weston blocks local smoking ban, favors statewide change Wausau Daily Herald, WI - Both spoke in favor of a comprehensive smoking ban in the village, citing health concerns. "There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke. ... Weston smoking ban on the table at meeting tonight Wausau Daily Herald all 5 news articles » Dothan Eagle Smoking becomes a business issue for proprietors, health issue for ... Dothan Eagle, AL - ... that someone would light up ? they have allergies, didn?t want to smell of cigarette smoke, or didn?t want to expose their children to secondhand smoke. ... Judge denies injunction on smoking ban Quad City Times, IA - ?The goal was obviously to protect as many Iowans and Iowa workplaces from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, and that will continue because of the ... Vote looms on local smoking ordinance Rock Hill Herald, SC - "I don't want to have one of my arteries shut off because I'm exposed to secondhand smoke. It's a public health issue." A counterargument comes from Peggy ...

There is No Risk-Free Level of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

The U.S. Surgeon General has concluded that breathing even a little secondhand smoke poses a risk to your health.

• Scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health.

Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer.

• Secondhand smoke is a known human carcinogen and contains more than 50 chemicals that can cause cancer.
• Concentrations of many cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are potentially higher in secondhand smoke than in the smoke inhaled by smokers.

Secondhand smoke causes heart disease.

• Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time can have immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, interfering with the normal functioning of the heart, blood, and vascular systems in ways that increase the risk of heart attack.
• Even a short time in a smoky room can cause your blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, decrease coronary flow velocity reserves, and reduce heart rate variability.
• Persons who already have heart disease are at especially high risk of suffering adverse affects from breathing secondhand smoke, and should take special precautions to avoid even brief exposure.

Secondhand smoke causes acute respiratory effects.

• Secondhand smoke contains many chemicals that can quickly irritate and damage the lining of the airways.
• Even brief exposure can trigger respiratory symptoms, including cough, phlegm, wheezing, and breathlessness.
• Brief exposure to secondhand smoke can trigger an asthma attack in children with asthma.
• Persons who already have asthma or other respiratory conditions are at especially high risk for being affected by secondhand smoke, and should take special precautions to avoid secondhand smoke exposure.

Secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome and other health consequences in infants and children.

• Smoking by women during pregnancy has been known for some time to cause SIDS.
• Infants who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth are also at greater risk of SIDS.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke are also at an increased risk for acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.

Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.

• The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the preeminent U.S. standard-setting body on ventilation issues, has concluded that ventilation technology cannot be relied on to completely control health risks from secondhand smoke exposure.
• Conventional air cleaning systems can remove large particles, but not the smaller particles or the gases found in secondhand smoke.
• Operation of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning system can distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building.

What Is Secondhand Smoke?

• 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).
  
  
• While secondhand smoke has been referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the past, the term “secondhand” smoke better captures the involuntary nature of the exposure.
  
  
• The 2006 Surgeon General’s report uses the term “involuntary” in the title because most nonsmokers do not want to breathe tobacco smoke. The term “involuntary” was also used in the title of the 1986 Surgeon General’s report on secondhand smoke.
  
  
• Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds.
  
  
  • Secondhand smoke contains many of the same chemicals that are present in the smoke inhaled by smokers.
  • 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 cigarette smoke.
  
  
• The National Toxicology Program estimates that at least 250 chemicals in secondhand smoke are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.
  
  
• Secondhand smoke has been designated as a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing agent) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and an occupational carcinogen by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
  
  
  • Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals.
  • When nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, they inhale many of the same cancer-causing chemicals that smokers inhale.

The Surgeon General has concluded that:

• There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke: even small amounts of secondhand smoke exposure can be harmful to people’s health.
• Many millions of Americans continue to be exposed to secondhand smoke.
• A smoke-free environment is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from the dangers of secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.