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Outdoor smoking poses a serious threat

To the Editor:

The California Air Resource Board (CARB) declared secondhand smoke a toxic air contaminant in January 2006.

Considering that secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 gases, such as arsenic and formaldehyde, it’s surprising that more cities haven’t already passed outdoor tobacco bans to protect their community.

According to the American Lung Association, annually secondhand smoke causes 3,400 lung cancer deaths, 46,000 deaths due to heart disease, and 430 SIDS deaths in infants. Moreover, secondhand smoke causes 1 million asthma attacks in children.

Last year, researchers at Stanford University found further proof that exposure to secondhand smoke in outdoor settings is a risk. The study measured pollution levels at outdoor places, such as dining areas and parks, and found that levels of exposure to secondhand smoke outdoors is comparable to secondhand smoke exposure indoors. When near a smoker outdoors, people were exposed to air-pollution levels significantly higher than normal. The study concluded there is compelling evidence for outdoor smoking bans.

Despite research, some people continue to ignore the dangers of secondhand smoke in outdoor areas. There is no denying the public health risk. We need to urge our city leaders to adopt policies that ban smoking outdoors in order to protect the public and those most at risk, such as children, pregnant moms, and the elderly.

How can we continue to let individuals generate toxic air pollution in our breathing space when all the evidence says it’s harmful to others? No one has that right. It’s time to protect our community and make our outdoor areas tobacco-free.

Jayne Brechwald

American Lung Association