Calif. declares secondhand smoke a pollutant!!!

[AGENDA21]

SACRAMENTO - California became the first state to declare secondhand smoke a toxic air pollutant Thursday, citing its link to breast cancer. Experts said the decision may have more impact worldwide than it does in the largely smoke-free state.

The decision by the California Air Resources Board puts environmental tobacco smoke in the same category as diesel exhaust, arsenic and benzene.

Scientific studies in recent years have warned about the health impact from second-hand smoke and linked it to a wide array of ailments including heart disease, lung cancer and other respiratory ailments, as well as breast cancer

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11048609/

[Warpy]

1. Second hand smoke contains benzene

and sometimes arsenic (depending on the soil) plus a whole load of noxious chemicals. Since houses and other buildings became superinsulated, tobacco smoke became a major indoor pollutant. Plus, it stinks.

This is a good ruling, folks, even though addicted folks will probably complain about it since it might restrict their access to a lot of indoor places outside California. Nobody likes to lose anything they've taken for granted. However, with the increase in asthma (especially in kids) that the country has seen over the last several decades, anything that's done to reduce indoor pollution is a good thing.

My advice to smokers would be to explore alternative nicotine delivery methods if you're going to be stuck in a smoke free indoor area for any period of time. Oh, you'll still want to light up, but the patch and gum can certainly make you a lot less miserable while you can't.

[CountAllVotes]

2. I know of two smokers

both are good friends and both have developed asthma. Will they quit? NO. Do they blame the fact that they have asthma and constant bronchial infections on their smoking? NO.

Does smoking cause asthma and a susceptibility to developing lung and bronchial infections? YES.

Good rule, I agree and yes, I am a former smoker myself and have been smoke free for over 5 years now. :D

It IS possible!

:kick:

[ProfessorGAC]

8. Not Always

It depends upon the heat of the pyrolysis. If the cigarette burns at a high enough temperature, the benzene undergoes combustion just like the rest of the organic matter and becomes H2O and either carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide. (The latter, obviously, is bad as well, just not a mutagen or carcinogen like benzene.)

I did lots of work on this back in the mid-90's. I still have a hard copy of the pre-release of the CDC study in my desk at home.
The Professor

[wuushew]

11. Wouldn't that be essentially impossible with conventional cigs?

A cool zone between the cherry and the filter would ensure some degree of nasty volatiles were inhaled by the smoker.

Would the failed "smart cigarette" been able to defeat these problems?

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Benzene Has Two Problems

First, it's highly volatile. That means it burns extremely readily as it has a very high vapor pressure and a low, but broad range of flammability.

Secondly, it absorbs extremely easily into the body through the lungs. So, the benzene inhaled stays in there. It's one of the most dangerous chemicals in any type of smoke based upon the burning of complex organics.

The smoke coming from the smoldering tip, however, is not passing through any cool zone, such as you described. That is the hottest part of the cigarette and the closest to the oxygen source. (The air around it!) So, the organics tend to burn very efficiently. Here's a thought experiment for you. (It's been done in real terms as well.) Weigh a cigarette. Burn it completely. Including using a flue to capture the particulate (the smoke itself).

Weigh all the ash and everything that's left. (Cut the filter off since that's not part of the combustion products.) You'll find there is VERY little weight remaining. That's because the vast majority of the combustion goes completely to water, CO2 and carbon monoxide. The residual is a very small amount.

The "smart cigarette" was actually intended, i think, to reduce the CO and resonant organic structure inhaled by the smoker, not necessarily a reduction in off-vapors. I'm not sure about that though. My recollection of that silly idea (no wonder it failed) is vague.
The Professor

[enid602]

3. pollution

Whenever I'm in Riverside, LA, Orange Co., San Bernardino, Fresno, Modesto, Bakersfield, Sacramento or Stockton, cigarette smoke is by no means the most toxic or unpleasant form of pollution in the air.

[fairandunbalanced]

4. cali no smoking zone

California has been on the anti smoking side for sometime and I have to say I like it. I used to smoke but never around others and never inside a store or anything like that. Then I went to Florida and had a meal at Wendys, I was quite alarmed when the lady sitting next to me started smoking in the Wendys of course the smoke didnt just stay in her area. I'm all for Freedom as long as it doent impeed on someone else's rights or someone else's lungs. You want to smoke that fine, just dont smoke everyone out!

[Xenotime]

5. should smoking be outlawed?

it does nobody any good.

[MadHound]

6. Gee, that's just what we don't need

Or did we not learn anything from Prohibition. Given the current War on Drugs, I suppose not.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. It Is. It's EPA and OSHA Category Is Class III Irritant

It's on both of their websites. (Takes some digging.)

It's also listed in the NIOSH regulations.

That being said, the linkage described in the article to the various cancers is simply false. There is no statistical correlation between exposure to 2nd hand smoke and cancer. It's an irritant and is particularly bad for someone who already has a chronic respiratory illness. (Asthma, sinusitis, emphysema, et al)

I was on the peer review board for the CDC study that came out in 1994 and was revised in 1997. There is definitely no link to cancer or any other IDLH ailments. But, it is indeed, classified as a pollutant by EPA and an irritant by OSHA.
The Professor

[devilgrrl]

9. Can't wait 'til industrial waste and vehicle exhaust join the list!

When is that going to happen?

[RedEarth]

10. Good ...... second-hand smoke is awful

Health effects of second-hand smoke......... numerous links

http://www.breatheeasyok.com/HealthEffects.htm