Ask an Expert: Ban smoking from public areas

Smoking and Tobacco

Ban smoking from public areas
03/17/2006

Question:

What do you think about banning smoking from public areas where children are?

Answer:

According to the American Cancer Society: "secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke, is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke from burning tobacco products:

Sidestream smoke: smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar

Mainstream smoke: smoke that is exhaled by a smoker

When nonsmokers are exposed to secondhand smoke it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke absorb nicotine and other compounds just as smokers do. The greater the exposure to secondhand smoke, the greater the level of these harmful compounds in your body."

Infants and children are among the most vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.
According to the March of Dimes:
"Babies who are exposed to smoke suffer from more lower-respiratory illnesses (such as bronchitis and pneumonia) and ear infections than other babies. Babies who are exposed to their parents’ smoke after birth also may face an increased risk of SIDS. A child exposed to smoking at home during the first few years of life also is at increased risk of developing asthma."
According to the Centers for Disease Control:
"Among children aged less than 18 years, an estimated 22% are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes, with estimates ranging from 11.7% in Utah to 34.2% in Kentucky."
Good websites to review the dangers of secondhand smoke are:
The American Cancer Society @ www.cancer.org, then search for “secondhand smoke”
March of Dimes@ www.marchofdimes.com
AND
Center for Disease Control: www.cdc.gov

For more information:

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Response by:

Kathy Vesha, RN, BSN, MA
Formerly:
Kick It!
The James
The Ohio State University