Within the human body, the natural process of moving soluble molecules across a membrane is referred to as passive transport. For this type of transport chemical energy is not necessary. Two of the main types of passive transport that the human body utilizes are osmosis and diffusion.
Diffusion is the movement of a hydrophobic substance across a semi-permeable membrane without the use of cell energy from a gradient area of higher concentration to an area (either inside or outside of the cell) with a lower concentration gradient. This process will continue until a balanced level of concentration can be reached between the environment and the cell. A couple of examples of the types of hydrophobic substances that can be moved through the process …show more content…
One specific type of environment hazard that is affecting humans by way of diffusion is second hand smoke in restaurants. As reported by the American Lung Association, a significant source of premature deaths and diseases in nonsmokers is exposure to second hand smoke (American Lung Association 2015). While many states have passed laws prohibiting smoking in the entire restaurants, there are still some locations where they still allow a smoking and nonsmoking section. The smoking/nonsmoking sections in most cases are separated by a half wall or a large amount of space, but when the carcinogens are disbursed into the air, the toxins mix into the air and in time, the toxins will blend with the nonsmoking section air until both air environments are blended and toxins evenly disbursed between both the smoking/nonsmoking side. The amount of time it takes for the smoke to reach the other side of the wall is of little importance when it is clear that the wall is only delaying the delivery of the toxins. The accommodation of smoking/nonsmoking sides to allow smoking in restaurants, only masks the fact that the patrons are still being exposed to second hand smoke, only at a slightly slower exposure
Diffusion is the movement of a hydrophobic substance across a semi-permeable membrane without the use of cell energy from a gradient area of higher concentration to an area (either inside or outside of the cell) with a lower concentration gradient. This process will continue until a balanced level of concentration can be reached between the environment and the cell. A couple of examples of the types of hydrophobic substances that can be moved through the process …show more content…
One specific type of environment hazard that is affecting humans by way of diffusion is second hand smoke in restaurants. As reported by the American Lung Association, a significant source of premature deaths and diseases in nonsmokers is exposure to second hand smoke (American Lung Association 2015). While many states have passed laws prohibiting smoking in the entire restaurants, there are still some locations where they still allow a smoking and nonsmoking section. The smoking/nonsmoking sections in most cases are separated by a half wall or a large amount of space, but when the carcinogens are disbursed into the air, the toxins mix into the air and in time, the toxins will blend with the nonsmoking section air until both air environments are blended and toxins evenly disbursed between both the smoking/nonsmoking side. The amount of time it takes for the smoke to reach the other side of the wall is of little importance when it is clear that the wall is only delaying the delivery of the toxins. The accommodation of smoking/nonsmoking sides to allow smoking in restaurants, only masks the fact that the patrons are still being exposed to second hand smoke, only at a slightly slower exposure