Public Smoking

Public Smoking – Dangers of Second Hand Smoking: Second hand smoking is a cause of heart disease and lung disease and death. It is a fact that exposure to tobacco smoke increases the chances of dying from smoking related disease by 20 – 30% in non- smokers. This passive smoking also affects the health of children and infants and is a cause of chronic lung cancer and respiratory infections in childhood. 


For all affected, the story is , ‘ the more the exposure to public smoking, the more the risk of disease.’ Secondhand smoke is an alarming health hazard to the public. Children whose parents are smokers ( particularly mothers because of their continual proximity to child) are at increased risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), lung infections such as pneumonia, coughs, wheezing, ear infections and even asthma. Unborn babies are not spared either. Chances of congenital diseases, low birth weight and stillbirth are higher in cases where the would-be mother is a smoker.


Whereas second hand smoke is shown to deliver only a small dose of harmful chemicals, it nonetheless has a very big impact on the health of the non-smoker. And so it is that protecting people from secondhand smoke not only has long-term benefits, but it starts saving lives immediately. One study has shown a direct link between a total public smoking ban and an immediate reduction in coronary heart disease including death by heart attack. There is another benefit in restricting public smoking, a clean smoke free environment could give smokers the incentive to reduce smoking or quit altogether.


Public smoking should definitely be restricted if not altogether banned on grounds of public health. In many states and countries worldwide, policy and legislation are being put in place to not only restrict but to heavily fine, charge and tax smokers, manufacturers, advertisers, and importers of tobacco in an effort to enforce these legislations. Creating  smoke-free sections in public areas and public buildings may not be good enough in protecting non-smokers from the hazards of breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke.
And if it comes to the debate about the rights of the smoker, let us also look at the rights of the society and the environment. Comprehensive laws on public smoking are needed here.