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: <289@rdin.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Jul-83 05:01:45 EDT Article-I.D.: rdin.289 Posted: Wed Jul 6 05:01:45 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 7-Jul-83 14:07:58 EDT Lines: 48 ". . . 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 Health 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