| Show Second-hand Second smoke is bad Dear Editor This letter is in response to the letters recently written in the Horizon and arid contains facts about the contents of second-hand second smoke I carefully gathered information information information mation from the Surgeon General and from the Cancer Society and was greatly shocked wi with th what wha t their reports had to say Cigarette smoking is hazardous hazardous hazardous haz haz- to the health and wet wel- W welfare fare of a non The deadly toxins and pollutants contained in the secondhand secondhand secondhand second second- hand smoke are the major causes of death and disease If those who smoke were aware of the different poisonous gases and toxins in passive and smoke they would not force others to suffer suffer suffer suf suf- fer from that extreme tion There are the well-known well tars and nicotine and some noxious gases But what about the ammonia and formaldehyde We all know what those are and what they are normally used for Then there ar are a co carcinogen a big word for a cancer causer nickel nickel- an organ specific carcinogen meaning it attacks the organs of the body benzo- benzo a tumor initiator meaning it causes tumors and phenola phenol- a tumor promoter meaning that once a tumor has started the phenol causes it to grow And we also L nor noY what hat car carbon on monoxide and hydrogen sulfide sulfide sul- sul fide are two of the deadliest gases known to man These are just a few of the substances contained in second hand smoke The passive smoker becomes becomes becomes be be- comes the innocent victim All ages are affected equally the elderly cardiac and asthmatic patients and children including unborn infants The massive costs associated associated as as- with medical care fires refuse disposal and careless careless careless care care- less litter affect not only the smoker but the smoker non-smoker as well Laws to curtail smoking smoking smoking ing in public places and cause smokers ers to be more responsible responsible responsible sible for their own actions are being adopted gradually world wide Legislation to improve improve improve im im- smokers non-smokers and prove rights safety are being sought International International International Inter Inter- national organizations are being formed and used to increase increase increase in in- crease awareness and propose incentives to businesses Individuals individuals individuals in in- and insurance companies companies companies com com- alike to aid in the reformation needed Nothing will be accomplished toward establishing smokers non-smokers rights until smokers are forced to realize the harmful effects their habit has on everyone How can one feel that wanting to smoke justifies causing others to suffer unnecessarily unnecessarily unnecessarily un un- un- un necessarily The malodorous sweetness of the scent that smokers so affectionately attribute attribute attribute at at- tribute to the habit they vehemently defend is fill filled d with the copiously deadly thorns of death-dealing death toxins Must we all share in that affection DONT BE A Signed Margaret Burk Major |
