Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!rdin!sarah
From: sarah@rdin.UUCP (Georgia)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: Where there's smoke . . .
Message-ID: <291@rdin.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 7-Jul-83 04:38:23 EDT
Article-I.D.: rdin.291
Posted: Thu Jul  7 04:38:23 1983
Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jul-83 21:37:37 EDT
Lines: 53

cFbD*I
[My apologies if this has been seen before--the first time I sent it, it 
 appeared to have been mangled and swallowed by the same mysterious
 black hole which eats socks.]

". . . more than 2000 compounds have been identified in cigarette smoke,
many of which are established carcinogens, irritants, and asphyxiants. . .
there is increasing evidence that passive exposures to tobacco smoke may
affect respiratory health.
   Tobacco combustion indoors contributes to concentrations of respirable
particles, nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, CO, acrolein, NO2,
and many other substances. . . Measurements in bars, restaurants, airplanes,
(smoking section), buses, conference rooms, and offices indicate CO and
particulate matter concentrations of 2 to 35 ppm and 10 to 100 ug/m3,
respectively. Analysis of respirable particle samples collected in 80 homes
over several years indicates that a "pack-a-day" smoker will contribute
appromixately 20 ug/m3 to 24-hour indoor particle concentrations.  Where
two or more heavy smokers resided in a house with low air-exchange rates, the
24-hour NAAQS [National Ambient Air Quality Standard] of 260 ug/m3 was also
violated.
   While the health effects of smoking on smokers have been studied extensively,
the health effects on nonsmokers have received far less emphasis.  Many 
substances in cigarette smoke are irritants, and conjuctival irritation, nasal
discomfort, cough, sore throat, and sneezing have been noted in nonsmokers
exposed to cigarette smoke. Measured changes in heart rate, systolic blood
pressure, COHb, psychomotor functions, and small airway dysfunction have also
been reported in nonsmokers who are exposed to smoke. . .
   The National Academy of Sciences stated in its report on indoor pollutants:
'The constituents of tobacco smoke are well-documented as hazardous, the 
prevalence of population exposure is very high, and there is an increased
incidence of respiratory tract symptoms and functional decrements (decreases)
in children residing in homes with smokers, compared with those homes without
smokers. These considerations and recent evidence of increased lung cancer
rates among non-smoking women living with smoking husbands have led us to
conclude that indoor exposure to tobacco smoke has adverse effects. Public
policy should clearly articulate that involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke
ought to be minimized or avoided where possible.'"

                         From "Science", the magazine of the American
			 Association for the Advancement of Science

			 1 July 1983--Vol.221--No.4605

			 "Indoor Air Pollution: A Public Healthe Perspective"
			  John D. Spengler and Ken Sexton
			  pp. 11-12


{Note: Sorry to clutter up net.flame with such well-reasoned arguments, but
       I'm really tired of the discussion on whether or not passive smoking
       can be *proven* to be harmful.}
	 
			   --Sarah Groves