Essay on Ban Public Smoking

Submitted By JNeukirch
Words: 932
Pages: 4
Open Document
Jeff Neukirch
Michael O’Shea
Eng 102
7 July 2012
Ban Public Smoking Smoking bans and campaigns against cigarette smoking are becoming a common theme around the United States. Just in the past 20 years, the government has realized that public smoking is poisonous to the public’s health because passive smoke is just as unhealthy for non-smokers as smoking is for smokers. Smoking should be banned in public because people are exposed to harmful smoke in many places. Many states have started banning smoking in places such as parks, beaches, public plazas and certain sporting events. The reason for banning public smoking is because passive smoke is very harmful to a person’s health and kills 53,000 non-smokers a year (Smoking Statistics 2009). Statistics show that passive smoke increases risks of asthma, increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer, increases the rates of ischemic heart disease, respiratory disease, and sudden infant death syndrome, and linked to affect the mental growth of children.
What is Passive Smoking or Secondhand Smoke? Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke, called secondhand smoke (SHS), or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), by a person other than the intended active smoker. SHS is a mixture of two forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco. “Sidestream smoke is the smoke that comes from the end of a lit cigarette, pipe, or cigar and mainstream smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker. Although we think of these as the same thing, they are quite different. Sidestream smoke has a much higher content of cancer causing agents known as carcinogens and contains smaller particles, which make their way into the body’s cells more easily. Mainstream smoke is a combination of inhaled and exhaled smoke after taking a puff of a lit cigarette. The composition of mainstream smoke is affected by how the smoker inhales and exhales, so it will vary from person to person” (American Cancer Society 2011). When non-smokers are exposed to SHS it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just as smokers do. There more SHS you are exposed to, the higher level of harmful chemicals enter your body. Smokers seem to ignore all important health information given to them on the risks of smoking and the cause and effects it has on non-smokers. “In January 1981, the first scientific studies suggesting an association between passive smoking and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults appeared in the medical literature” (qtd. in Hirayama 183) “Over the next 13 years, additional studies appeared, providing confirming evidence that passive smoking caused cancer. The authors state “spearheaded by the efforts of US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and grassroots ‘nonsmokers’ rights’ groups, multiple policy changes were enacted across the United States, including over 400 local ordinances restricting smoking in enclosed public places, and Congressional bans on smoking on airline flights” (Malone, Boyd and Bero 714). No matter what anyone tells you, smoke does not stay in the smoking section of a restaurant. “Secondhand smoke is the perfect health threat and violates the boundaries and barriers meant to contain it and therefore require new policies to eliminate it” (Reid 33). This undetectable threat seizes a persistent uncertainty and social paranoia of this dominant health risk. One of the biggest health concerns caused by smoking and secondhand smoke is heart disease. People now realize that exposure to secondhand smoke is dangerous and this exposure can increase their chance of heart problems although they do not smoke. “The American Heart
Show More

Related Documents: Essay on Ban Public Smoking

Research Paper Final Draft

Maria Flemming Ms. Stanek Honors English 10 12 January 2011 Smoking Bans: A Necessity Last year, tobacco consumption was blamed for fifty billion dollars in direct health care costs by anti-smoking organizations as well as one hundred billion dollars that was lost in productivity (Parrish). The smoking bans that have already been implemented help everything from the natural environment to the smokers themselves. Secondhand smoking is breathing the smoke from another person’s cigarettes, or breathing…

Words 1350 - Pages 6

There Are Many Smokers In The World Today Essay

discussing about to ban smoking at parks and other public venues. It is still hard for a lot of people to do not smoke in indoor public venues, such as bars and clubs. Non-smoker people are saying that they do not want smokers in public venues, such as in parks, anymore. Smoking should be banned to reduce disease. A main support for that reason is that people who smoke are more likely to develop diseases such as lung cancer and liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is mostly caused by smoking. It reduces and…

Words 586 - Pages 3

Argumentative Essay: Should Public Housing Be Allowed?

question being debated is that of whether it should be allowed for the government to impose a ban on public housing and the people living in those houses. Three of the groups most affected by this ban would be, the people living in the public housing, non-smokers, and the government themselves. For example, if this ban were to go through it would mean that the people in the position of needed public housing would have to choose between their addiction and comfort or their living situation. Many…

Words 825 - Pages 4

Smoking Ban Essay examples

Ban Smoking in America Americans waste billions of dollars each year on tobacco products. Other drugs that are harmful, such as crack or marijuana, are illegal in the United States. If certain harmful substances are illegal, then cigarettes should not be permitted either. Smoking cigarettes are a proven killer of millions worldwide annually, but is perfectly legal. Cigarettes have a large affect on society in the area of environmental problems it carries with it. Smoking obviously pollutes the…

Words 1670 - Pages 7

Chinese Government Challenge: Tobacco Regulation and Compliance Essay

SUMMARIES Smoking is a habit that has a detrimental effect on a persons health. A cigarette contains chemicals that are injurious to health and causes cancer. They contain a chemical called nicotine that causes addiction and hence people find it difficult to quit smoking; furthermore, it also creates a environment that harms non smokers. In fact, people who inhale smoke may also get cancer and are known as passive smokers. Many organizations have started implementing bans on smoking, so that they…

Words 593 - Pages 3

Electronic Cigarettes

though there are campaigns to promote negative effects of smoking, people smoke anyway. Despite, the clear evidence that tobacco has connection with serious health problems there are still people who do not accept it. According WHO, there is tobacco epidemic. Michael R. Bloomberg concludes “One in 10 deaths around the world is caused by tobacco.” (WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 17). Cigarette smoking should be banned at all public venues. Smoke free laws protect smokers’ health, moreover…

Words 994 - Pages 4

Smoking Ban and Smoke Essay

consider bans on smoking in public places, we must continue to grapple with issues of fairness and explore pro and con arguments. For my part, I support smoking bans with very few reservations. If you intuitively support public smoking curtailment but need some logical support, here are some brief arguments in favor of smoking bans. Whereas the effects of other self-indulgent, personally harmful behaviors are more singularly linked to the participant, the injurious effects of smoking in public spill…

Words 1070 - Pages 5

Year 11 English Butt Out article Essay

BUTT …UT Herald!Sun,!22!February!2012! Outdoor smoking stinks Fiona Sharkie BAN SMOKING OUTDOORS As#debate#rages#over# outdoor#smoking,#the# experts#explain#the#case# for#and#against#an# outright#ban#in# restaurant#courtyards,# playgrounds#and# beaches.# AS summer draws to a close, many Victorians are taking advantage of the warm nights and amazing restaurant scene for which the state is so rightfully celebrated. Unfortunately for many diners, their wish to enjoy an alfresco meal with family is…

Words 745 - Pages 3

Essay on Smoking

Should Smoking be banned in Public Space? Good morning, my name is Jason and today I will be arguing on the topic of whether smoking should be banned in public places. I’m going to start out by saying a firm yes! I believe any person, child or adult should be able to walk down the street without being victim to this hazardous smoke, without question! Smoking is a risk factor of many health issues from cancer to a heart attack or stroke. So I think it is sad that when someone in a public space…

Words 830 - Pages 4

Explain Why Smoking Should Not Be Allowed In Outdoor Public Places

smoked and advertised smoking in all places. If public places allowed this to happen potential smokers will increase significantly. Also the environment is already damaged by the industrial influence but, another contributor are smokers. They exhale fumes into the air. It might not be as damaging as factories but, still brings the natural environment down. Adolescents and younger are usually most easily convinced to try smoking by seeing or witnessing others. Therefore, smoking should not be allowed…

Words 429 - Pages 2