Tobacco use is prevalent and widespread, it may seem like the amount of smokers are on the decline but the numbers are astonishing. Tobacco use kills up to half of its users (Tobacco). “Every time a person lights up a cigarette he or she releases 4,000 chemicals into the air and at least sixty nine of them are known to cause cancer” (Bast). Research has proven cigarette smoke can cause cancer, and inhaling secondhand smoke can be just as harmful as smoking itself. Secondhand smoke is a key element to evaluate as it has been proven to cause addiction in nonsmokers and has detrimental side effects on a person 's health. According to the National Cancer Institute living with a smoker increases a non smoker 's chance of developing lung cancer by
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Many feel that with the heightened awareness of the dangers of tobacco use “it 's the individual 's decision” or “it 's to each 's own” this issue will take care of itself. This assumption is incorrect. People argue that Americans have rights, and they should be able to smoke wherever they please. They have to account for the damage that is being done to the innocent bystanders. People who smoke are not only affecting themselves, but the others surrounding them. People are not weighing the risk because they are not aware of the numbers. A majority of people do not realize how serious secondhand smoke is for the people who inhale it. “Second-hand smoke causes more than 600,000 premature deaths per year worldwide. In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to secondhand smoke” (Tobacco). Public smoking is killing and is a major threat to the well being of hundreds of thousands of people.
More stories about secondhand smoke exposure and health related effects emerge every year. Cigarettes and tobacco have obtained a bad reputation rightfully as a result. Secondhand smoke contains ETS a chemical that can cause lung damage. “ETS imposed upon children causes 150,000 to 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year, and worsened asthma in up to one million children annually (Smoak). Secondhand tobacco smoke and first hand smoke have the same addictive
Many feel that with the heightened awareness of the dangers of tobacco use “it 's the individual 's decision” or “it 's to each 's own” this issue will take care of itself. This assumption is incorrect. People argue that Americans have rights, and they should be able to smoke wherever they please. They have to account for the damage that is being done to the innocent bystanders. People who smoke are not only affecting themselves, but the others surrounding them. People are not weighing the risk because they are not aware of the numbers. A majority of people do not realize how serious secondhand smoke is for the people who inhale it. “Second-hand smoke causes more than 600,000 premature deaths per year worldwide. In 2004, children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to secondhand smoke” (Tobacco). Public smoking is killing and is a major threat to the well being of hundreds of thousands of people.
More stories about secondhand smoke exposure and health related effects emerge every year. Cigarettes and tobacco have obtained a bad reputation rightfully as a result. Secondhand smoke contains ETS a chemical that can cause lung damage. “ETS imposed upon children causes 150,000 to 300,000 cases of bronchitis and pneumonia each year, and worsened asthma in up to one million children annually (Smoak). Secondhand tobacco smoke and first hand smoke have the same addictive