The National Institutes of Health's National Toxicolgy Program's 9th issue
of the Report on Carcinogens listed ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) as a "known" human carcinogen, which
indicates that there is a cause and effect relationship between exposure and
human cancer incidence.
ETS is classified as a Group A carcinogen (known to cause cancer in humans)
under the EPA's carcinogen assessment guidelines. Exposure to ETS causes
lung cancer and has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease in
nonsmokers.
ETS causes serious respiratory problems in children, such as greater number
and severity of asthma attacks and lower respiratory tract infections. ETS
exposure increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and
middle ear infections for children.
Cotinine is a major metabolite of nicotine. Exposure to nicotine can be
measured by analyzing the cotinine levels in the blood, saliva, or urine.
Since nicotine is highly specific for tobacco smoke, serum cotinine levels
track exposure to tobacco smoke and its toxic constituents.
Involuntary exposure to ETS remains a common, serious public health hazard
that is entirely preventable by adopting and enforcing appropriate
regulatory policies. Smokefree environments are the most effective method
for reducing ETS exposure. Healthy People 2010 objectives address this issue
and seek optimal protection of nonsmokers through policies, regulations, and
laws requiring smoke-free environments in all schools, work sites, and
public places.
ETS causes about 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually among adult nonsmokers.
Scientific studies have also estimated that ETS accounts for as many as
62,000 deaths from coronary heart disease annually in the United States.
More research is needed to know exactly how recent changes in ETS exposure
may affect lung cancer rates among adult nonsmokers.
This information is from Center for Disease control and prevention (CDC).
If you are with us so far, you must be convinced about the ill-effects of ETS.
What we can do:
Campaign for a comprehensive nationwide tobacco
control program for banning indoor smoking or limiting it to
separately ventilated areas.
Prevent people from smoking in public places
like restaurants, theatres, offices, parks, railway stations and bus stops.
Build up Support Groups to discourage people from smoking.
Let's refuse to inhale smoke from someone else's cigarettes! Let's lobby for smoke-free India!!
http://www.RebuildIndia.org/ ,is a non-profit community organization for betterment of India.
