Posted on 06/27/2006 8:49:35 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
WASHINGTON - Separate smoking sections don't cut it: Only smoke-free buildings and public places truly protect nonsmokers from the hazards of breathing in other people's tobacco smoke, says a long-awaited surgeon general's report.
Some 126 million nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, what U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona repeatedly calls "involuntary smoking" that puts people at increased risk of death from lung cancer, heart disease and other illnesses.
Moreover, there is no risk-free level of exposure to someone else's drifting smoke, declares the report issued Tuesday — a conclusion sure to fuel already growing efforts at public smoking bans nationwide. Fourteen states have passed what are considered comprehensive smoke-free workplace laws, those that include restaurants and bars.
But the surgeon general is especially concerned about young children who can't escape their parents' addiction in search of cleaner air: Just over one in five children is exposed to secondhand smoke at home, where workplace bans don't reach. Those children are at increased risk of SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome; lung infections such as pneumonia; ear infections; and more severe asthma.
"Exposure to secondhand smoke remains an alarming public health hazard," Carmona said. "Nonsmokers need protection through the restriction of smoking in public places and workplaces" — and by smokers voluntarily not puffing around children.
The report won't surprise doctors. It isn't a new study but a compilation of the best research on secondhand smoke, the most comprehensive federal probe since the last surgeon general's report on the topic in 1986, which declared secondhand smoke a cause of lung cancer in nonsmokers.
Since then, numerous other health agencies have linked to secondhand smoke to heart disease and other illnesses. Earlier this year, California health officials estimated that secondhand smoke kills about 3,400 nonsmoking Americans annually from lung cancer, 46,000 from heart disease, and 430 from SIDS.
The new surgeon general's report doesn't retally the deaths, but it cites that toll.
The tobacco industry and some businesses, particularly restaurant and bar owners concerned about loss of smoking customers, have challenged some of the broadest public smoking bans in cities and states.
The new report gives new scientific ammunition against those challenges, said Matthew Myers of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
"There is no longer a scientific controversy that secondhand smoke is a killer," he said. The report "eliminates any excuse from any state or city for taking halfway measures to restrict smoking, or permitting smoking in any indoor workplace."
Among other findings:
_Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air and ventilation systems don't eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.
_There is good evidence that comprehensive smoking bans, like those in New York City and Boston, don't economically hurt the hospitality industry.
_Workplace smoking restrictions not only reduce secondhand smoke but discourage active smoking by employees.
_Secondhand smoke can act on the arteries so quickly that even a brief pass through someone else's smoke can endanger people at high risk of heart disease. Don't ever smoke around a sick relative, Carmona advised
_Living with a smoker increases a nonsmoker's risk of lung cancer and heart disease by up to 30 percent.
_There isn't proof that secondhand smoke causes breast cancer, although the evidence is suggestive. California earlier this year cited that link in becoming the first state to declare secondhand smoke a toxic air pollutant.
On the plus side, blood measurements of a nicotine byproduct show that exposure to secondhand smoke has decreased. Levels dropped by 75 percent in adults and 68 percent in children between the early 1990s and 2002. However, not only has children's exposure declined less rapidly, but levels of that byproduct among children are more than twice as high as in nonsmoking adults.
And yet people will still voluntarily take up the addiction...
Surgeon General Report URL
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/sgr/sgr_2006/index.htm
And only two weeks ago in England the House of Lords said that the scientific evidence does not support a public smoking ban because environmental tobacco smoke is not the risk it is purported to be.
The hyperbole surrounding the "horrors" second hand smoke is the work of the public advocates, that is, attorneys who don't have the time, energy and brains for being in the top eschelons of lawyerism: federal prosecution, corporatations, criminal defense.
Let's see if the criers come on to tell their sad tales of the anecdotal stories of the evils of second hand smoke. All very sad but all very balonial.
I just made up that word.
Time for Big Brother to install surveillance cameras in homes where children reside.
All of these articles coming out recently leads me to believe that someone is gearing up for another big lawsuit.
Vice Admiral Richard H. Carmona was sworn in as the 17th Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service on August 5, 2002.
Ok, but what about second-hand carbon monoxide from other people's automobiles? I've yet to find one anti-smoking zealot who'll take me up on my challenge: I'll sit in my garage smoking my pipe while they sit in their garage with their car engine running. The last one standing wins.
Nanny State PING.
I have not yet had time to read the entire report - just the press releases.........
Interestingly enough, it appears Carmona has ties to the anti-smoker cartel and has been leaking information to them prior to the release of this report.
I plan on contacting some people - an investigation into the SG's office needs to be done, to determine the (possibly financial) ties between the SG's office, the anti-smoker cartel, and the pharaceutical industry.
Methinks that the Surgeon general has an agenda, but not the balls to call for a law banning smoking.
Meantime we tax hell out of them.
By the way I dont smoke. Never have.
I do wonder on occasion how the Government will replace all that income when they finally tax the cigarette companies out of business. Probably tax Candy or Soda's.
funny tag line
"It isn't a new study but a compilation of the best research on secondhand smoke, the most comprehensive federal probe since the last surgeon general's report on the topic in 1986,..."
Which was proven to be bunk computer modeling that was thrown out of court. Oh, well, keep repeating it long enough and even FReepers will believe it.....
Interesting, I've made a similar challenge over the years and have never been taken up on it.
The office of Surgeon General seems to be a dumping ground for nuts. The veiled threat to parents is a real nice touch.
I plan on contacting some people - an investigation into the SG's office needs to be done, to determine the (possibly financial) ties between the SG's office, the anti-smoker cartel, and the pharaceutical industry.
Excellent!
Oh, well, keep repeating it long enough and even FReepers will believe it.....
Yeah, I've noticed that as well!
Here we go again.
OMG! I AM SOOOOOO ADDICTED!
I am addicted to RUNNING 6 miles a day. Can't start my day without running 6 miles, I am SO addicted.
I am addicted to PEPSI! Got to have it every morning to start my day. Don't even look at me until I have my Pepsi. I am SO ADDICTED!!!!
I am so addicted to working out at the gym 3 times a week. GOT to work this body. Can't manage my life without all the sweat and the exercise and the cardio!
YES I AM SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ADDICTED! OH MY GAWD!!!!!! What to do what to do?!!!
DON'T LET THE HEADLINES FOOL YOU
Court throws out challenge to EPA findings on secondhand smoke - (December 2002) - The ruling was based on the highly technical grounds that since the EPA didn't actually enact any new regulations (it merely declared ETS to be a carcinogen without actually adopting any new rules), the court had no jurisdiction to rule in the matter. This court ruling on the EPA report is NOT a stamp of approval for that report. Judge Osteen's criticisms of the EPA report are still completely valid and is accompanied by other experts.
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