Dangers of secondhand smoke

Tuesday, 19 May 2015

EVERYONE knows smoking kills. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals of which around
70 can cause cancer. Nonsmokers have an equal chance of developing lung cancer after exposure to
secondhand smoke. Babies and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke will fall sick more often
with respiratory diseases such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
Worse still, for children with asthma, breathing in secondhand smoke can trigger an attack. Essentially,
there is no difference between active smoking and passive smoking.
Sad to say, many are still not aware of how dangerous secondhand smoke is.Today, we still see parents
light up in front of their children or insensitive friends puffing in front of nonsmoking friends.
Thus, we strongly believe that the recent proposal by the Health Ministry to impose a total ban on smoking
at all eateries and public parks is definitely a universal plan to protect all nonsmokers from involuntary
exposure to secondhand smoke.
In spite of having invited opposing voices, particularly from business entities, the rationale behind the
proposal is that people’s health and safety should come before everything else, including profits. This
measure is not intended to make their lives difficult but to save lives.
Under the Control of Tobacco Product Regulations 2004, 22 places have been gazetted as smoke-free areas
including bus terminals, hospitals, stadiums and petrol stations.
Air-conditioned restaurants, which are already included in the present list, nonetheless still allow designated
smoking areas. Tobacco smoke particles at less than 2.5 microns can easily escape to nonsmoking zones
even when there are physical barriers, what more in settings with centralised air-conditioning systems. No
amount of secondhand smoke is safe. Even when you do not smell it, secondhand smoke can still harm you
and your family.
Allowing 40% of the premises to be smoking zones will not do any good in protecting nonsmokers from
exposure to secondhand smoke. The only safe range is a 100% smoke-free environment.
Knowing that 7 out of 10 Malaysians are exposed to tobacco smoke inside restaurants - around 21 million
lives are at stake - a total ban on smoking at all public places should be implemented soonest, starting with
eateries where most people including children patronise.
The measure does not mean to deny the rights of smokers to smoke, but to educate them to smoke
responsibly. 76% percent of Malaysians who do not smoke have the right to enjoy clean air. Therefore,
smoking should not be done in spaces where there are nonsmokers.
The Malaysian Green Lung Association, a youth movement for tobacco control, fully supports the proposal
to enforce a 100% ban on smoking at all open-air and air-conditioned eateries and public parks. The success
of this plan will be determined by two key factors, effective enforcement by the relevant authorities and
compliance among the owners of the said premises. When the threat involves lives, appropriate legislation
and regulation should be in place to shape the change. We would like to humbly recommend that the
authorities strictly enforce the law and impose penalties on the rule breakers. At the same time, they need to
identify and designate smoking spots that are less accessible to the public without marginalising the rights
of smokers.
HO RHU YANN and TANG KHAI SHENG
Co-founders, Malaysian Green Lung Association

Source; https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/letters/2015/05/19/dangers-of-secondhand-
smoke/#AmobGOWu7VUpxDHJ.99