The Emporia Gazette

Opponents say Clean Air Emporia over-reaches with smoking ban plan

It's interesting that Corbin states that the argument for a smoking ban being compared to regulations enforcing the safe handling of foods to protect the public from food poisoning is not valid and he proposes that scientific evidence does not do the same for secondhand smoke. Apparently, Corbin is unaware of the 2006 Surgeon General’s report, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services which clearly states that 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 proves that secondhand smoke causes lung cancer.

Secondhand Smoke is a known human carcinogen and contains more than 50 chemicals that 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 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, contains many chemicals that can quickly irritate and damage lining of the airways; even brief exposure can trigger respiratory symptoms, including cough, phlegm, wheezing and breathlessness; brief exposure to SHS can trigger an asthma attack in people 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 SHS exposure.

For more information, go to www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/second...

With scientific evidence proving the deleterious effects of secondhand smoke, it is the rightful duty for the public to be protected from Secondhand Smoke.

August 20, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )

Smoke-free needed

The issue is about public health. Go to the 2006 Surgeon General's report, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. www.surgeongeneral.gov

The report states that there is NO Risk Free Level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Scientific evidence indicates that breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful to your health. Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease, acute respiratory effects, SIDS, and many other health consequences.

If you want to make a difference in Emporia, contact the Lyon County Tobacco Free Coalition through the Health Department and let your words be put into action. It's all about public health, we regulate food quality, water quality, and more for public health, why not focus on air quality for the whole public?

October 3, 2007 at 8:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )