The Michigan Smoking Ban and Your Health
The Michigan House and Senate passed a statewide smoking ban on December 10. The ban applies to all bars, restaurants, and workplaces in Michigan, excluding only casinos and cigar bars. Smokers can continue to smoke in their own homes and cars. The bill will go into effect May 1, 2010.
In 1995, California was the first American state to enact a statewide ban on public smoking. Michigan will become 38th state to enact some sort of statewide smoking ban.
According to the American Cancer Society, those who are exposed to secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. Secondhand smoke is classified as a “known human carcinogen” (cancer-causing agent). Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds. More than 60 of these are known or suspected to cause cancer.
The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General’s report reached some important conclusions:
• Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes breathing (respiratory) symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
• Secondhand smoke immediately affects the heart and blood circulation in a harmful way. Over a longer time it also causes heart disease and lung cancer.
• The scientific evidence shows that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
• The only way to fully protect non-smokers from exposure to secondhand smoke indoors is to prevent all smoking in that indoor space or building. Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot keep non-smokers from being exposed to secondhand smoke.
Whether you support the smoking ban or not, one thing is certain. The ban will help reduce unnecessary public exposure to secondhand smoke, improving the health of Michiganders.
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Nicotine is one of the most addicting substance in this world so avoid smoking cigarettes.~.”
oh well, nicotine is the number cause of lung disease. this substance can really kill your lungs.:’,