Second Hand Smoke a Serious Health Hazard

(Pittsburgh) The Executive Director of Allegheny County’s tobacco control program is hopeful that the public and lawmakers respond to a recently released study by the U.S. Surgeon General calling second hand smoke a “serious health hazard”. At a news conference in Oakland, Tobacco Free Allegheny’s Cindy Thomas told reporters that the debate over whether or not second hand smoke is dangerous to the public at large is over. “Surgeon General Richard Carmona based his 670-page report on years of scientific research indicating that second hand smoke is a grave health hazard. His comments should make every reasonable person understand that they put their health in jeopardy when they are around people who smoke”. The Surgeon General reiterated the long-standing fact that second hand smoke results in thousands of deaths annually from lung cancer.

Thomas applauded the Surgeon General’s call for smoke free buildings and public places nationwide. “The science is very clear. Just because you seat yourself in a non-smoking section at a restaurant or at work does not protect you from the danger of developing lung cancer, heart disease or other illnesses through second hand smoke. It is proven that ventilation systems do not filter out all of the harmful effects. Even though you may not have a cigarette between your lips, you’re still passively smoking and that is why we believe clean indoor air is the only way to insure the good health of those who choose not to smoke”.

Secondhand smoke also puts children at risk of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, as well as bronchitis, pneumonia, worsening asthma attacks, poor lung growth and ear infections, the report found, Thomas says smokers should never smoke around children, inside the house or in a closed vehicle. “Simply opening a window is not enough”.

While Allegheny County currently has no ordinances in place to require smoke free restaurants, Thomas says there are laws in place to protect some workplaces. “There are still a number of employers who allow their employees to use tobacco in the workplace. They may think that allowing an employee to smoke while on the job keeps the employee productive and cost effective. In reality, the cost in time lost due to illness and insurance premiums for a worker who uses tobacco may be far higher.” Secondhand smoke in the workplace is also a health justice issue. African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately affected by secondhand smoke in the workplace. High rates or occupational exposure to secondhand smoke stem, in part, from the fact that people of color are disproportionately employed in labor and factory jobs that have the highest rates of exposure to secondhand smoke.