Tobacco Articles: category ets

LETTER: Allegan's tobacco ban will lead to healthier nation (Letter)

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Reading Rod Smith's article that Allegan County has banned tobacco use in parks with playground equipment puts a smile on my face. According to facts shared in the article, "the use of tobacco is the most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States… Secondhand smoke, cigarette butts and tobacco spit may be hazardous to people and animals." These are not facts to be taken lightly. I understand tobacco and smokeless tobacco users may be offended at such a law, and may feel their rights are being invaded. However, what about the rights of those who are being exposed to the harmful chemicals produced by tobacco usage? Furthermore, what about children (who can be most vulnerable) and their invasion of rights? Many children are not asked if they mind the secondhand smoke.

For pets' health, stop smoking

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Valentine's Day is a traditional time to show love for the special people in our lives, but what about our pets? "Our animals give us their unconditional love, and in return, we can show our love for them by quitting smoking on Feb. 14," said Jayme Bottke of Tehama County Health Services Agency in a press release. During the month of February, veterinary offices in Tehama County and throughout the North State are asking clients about tobacco use in their homes and informing pet owners that they can protect their pets from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke if family members quit or choose to smoke away from their animals, reported the agency.

Smoky air can harm dogs and cats, too, says vets and pollution experts

dcuff@bayareanewsgroup.com ( Denis Cuff Contra Costa Times) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Spare the air. Spare the human health. Now, spare the pets. You've heard of the no-wood-burning alerts on bad air days this winter to protect people in the Bay Area, but there are others to guard from the smoke as well -- cats, dogs and horses. . . . "I think wood smoke can be a big issue for pets, much like secondhand smoke," said Dr. Suzanne Lee, a veterinarian at the Alamo Animal Hospital. "You've got to assume that smoke affects them, but pets don't complain as much as people do." She estimated that as much as 10 percent of her cat patients have asthma -- a condition aggravated by allergens, dust and smoke. She cautions anyone with asthmatic cats to keep their pets indoors on Spare the Air days, when smoke and other fine particles in the air are predicted to exceed the federal health standard for humans. Spare the Air alerts have been issued on 15 days so far this season in the Bay Area. Lee is not alone in her concern about smoke and pets. The Bay Area's air pollution district and Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation held a media briefing Tuesday at the ARF shelter in Walnut Creek to talk about smoke effects on pets. ARF diagnoses asthma and respiratory problems in some cats during health checkups before the animals are put up for adoption.

Less Smoke Exposure in Teens' Cars

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Action Points Explain that fewer teens are inhaling secondhand smoke in cars, as efforts continue to limit youth exposure to the potential harms of tobacco. Point out that despite this improvement, just over one-fifth of nonsmoking students reported secondhand smoke exposure in a car in the previous seven days. Fewer teens are inhaling secondhand smoke in cars, as efforts continue to limit youth exposure to the potential harms of tobacco, a nationwide survey found. From 2000 to 2009, the number of adolescents overall who reported riding in cars with someone smoking fell from 48.1% to 29.8% (P<0.001 for trend), according to Brian A. King, PhD, and colleagues from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. And during that time, the percentage of nonsmoking teens exposed to secondhand smoke in cars decreased from 39% to 22.8%, which was a 71.1% change, the researchers reported online ahead of print in the March issue of Pediatrics.

Tails of Seattle | Veterinary Q&A: Secondhand smoke and our pets: Tails of Seattle: A pets blog Your local source for news and tips about dogs, cats and other critters, featuring fun videos, reader photos, Q&As and more.

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Dr. Clare Knottenbelt is a professor at the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where her recent research involves assessing hair nicotine in dogs exposed to secondhand smoke. She answers this week's questions. Question: What role does secondhand smoke play in a pet's health? Answer: It has been difficult to prove many associations with secondhand smoke (SHS) in pets because we can't ask the pet themselves. However, we know it can increase the risk of some cancers. In addition, the smoke sticks to the pets' hair, which means when they groom themselves the smoke will be eaten as well as breathed. As vets, we can tell when an owner smokes because their pet smells strongly of stale smoke. I met one owner who realized the effect that smoking was having on her cat when she found the cats bed was stained with nicotine.

LBSU Student Receives Award for Second-Hand Smoke Research

addison@lbpost.com ( Brian Addison * Long Beach News) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

For his proposal to study how secondhand smoke exposure may predispose women to heart disease, Cal State Long Beach (CSULB) chemistry/biochemistry senior Tuyen Ngoc Tran has received a $3,000 scholarship as one of this year's recipients of the Howell-CSUPERB Research Scholar Award. CSUPERB (CSU Program for Education and Research in Biotechnology) has partnered with the Doris A. Howell Foundation for Women's Health Research to fund promising undergraduate student research projects in topics related to women's health. The Howell Foundation and CSUPERB recognize that research experience is critical to engaging, retaining and graduating students interested in careers in women's health. CSUPERB received 32 applications from students at 15 different CSU campuses for the Howell awards, but only 11 students from seven of the universities were selected for the $3,000 scholarships. The Howell-CSUPERB Scholars show great professional promise academically and in research programs. Each scholar will be conducting faculty mentored research projects during 2012.

Secondhand Smoke An Unwelcome Passenger In Cars With Kids

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

About 1 in 5 kids in middle school or high school is exposed to secondhand smoke in cars. Sitting in a car with a smoker is about as close to lighting up as a nonsmoker can get. And quite a few schoolchildren get exposed to secondhand smoke this way, according to an estimate by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About 1 in 5 nonsmoking kids in middle and high school reported sharing a car with a smoker who had lit up within a week of answering a survey in 2009. The researchers say the survey, which included responses from thousands of students, gives an accurate snapshot of what's happening across the country.

Murphy: Smoking ban: Not matter of 'choice'

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

I once had a favorite patient who lived a scrupulously healthy life. . . . "Lung cancer? He never smoked," his family members said. But his wife did. In August 2010, the Savannah City Council passed the Savannah Smokefree Air Ordinance of 2010, which eliminated smoking in all workplaces, closing loopholes in the 2005 Georgia Clean Air Act. The law was expanded to prohibit smoking in all public places and workplaces in the City of Savannah as of January 2011. The city ordinance did not extend to the unincorporated areas of Chatham County. A recent vote by the Chatham County Commission stripped the smoking ban from private clubs and from bars allowing only patrons 21 and older in the unincorporated areas, as well as outdoor serving areas and retail tobacco stores. Surprisingly, Commissioner Harris Odell -- perhaps our most health-savvy political figure, with a master's degree in Public Health from Tulane -- supported the watered-down proposal, saying, "I believe in individual choice." . . . Smokers have a right to smoke. They do not, however, have a right to expose nonsmoking citizens to the consequences of their unhealthy habit. The final draft of the Chatham County smoking ordinance will be submitted to the commission for adoption at a future meeting. Here's hoping that wisdom will prevail and that the county will adopt a measure that mirrors the City of Savannah's. This is not about "individual choice." It's about providing for the health of the majority of Chatham County's citizens. That's plain old common sense -- something we could afford to see a bit more of in local government.

Too many kids exposed to secondhand smoke in cars; more restrictions needed, CDC study says

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Texting while driving, speeding and back-seat hanky-panky aren't all that parents need to worry about when their kids are in cars: Add secondhand smoke to the list. In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than 1 in 5 high school students and middle schoolers ride in cars while others are smoking. This kind of secondhand smoke exposure has been linked with breathing problems and allergy symptoms, and more restrictions are needed to prevent it, the report says. With widespread crackdowns on smoking in public, private places including homes and cars are where people encounter secondhand smoke these days. Anti-smoking advocates have zeroed in on cars because of research showing they're potentially more dangerous than smoke-filled bars and other less confined areas. The research, from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was released online Monday in Pediatrics.

Study: Children most vulnerable to second-hand smoke

sfazan@wfts.com (Sarina Fazan) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A new study by the Centers for Disease Control may be the incentive smokers need. The report reminds people of the harms of second-hand smoke, and says children can be the most vulnerable. Because of the confined and small space, cars can be even more dangerous. Kim Harbaugh, a proud grandmother and former teacher hopes people will listen to the warnings. "It would be so sad to see little kids get out of car where a parent was smoking and you could see the smoke come out of the car. All day long the kids smelled like smoke. It was just sad," said Harbaugh. "I think it's abuse if you smoke in the car with children present," said Dr. Joseph Diaco. Strong words, but Dr. Diaco, former Chief of Surgery and Staff at St. Joeseph's Hospital as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers former chief physician for 33 years, says the medical research backs up his belief.

1 In 5 Kids Exposed To Second Hand Smoke While In Vehicles

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

A new government survey of middle and high school students shows that one in five kids are being exposed to second hand smoke while in a vehicle. While the overall number of smokers and kids exposed to second hand smoke has dropped, experts say far too many kids are still exposed to dangerous fumes that can lead to asthma, infections, and other health problems. Amanda Fall from Tobacco Free Allen County says, "A lot of people don't realize, just having the window down isn't doing anything. The amount of secondhand smoke exposure is more than in a smokey bar if you're in a car."

Can secondhand smoke cause cancer in cats and dogs?

pets@northjersey.com ( Naomi Seldin Ramirez (Ask The Vets column) | Jersey Dog) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Unfortunately, this is a complicated question, and there is rarely a single cause of cancer. Although it is difficult to establish a clear cause and effect between something such as secondhand smoke and cancer in pets, the evidence for environmental factors being involved is mounting in veterinary medicine. One study revealed only a slight increase in the development of lung cancer in dogs living with a smoker, and this risk did not increase with greater secondhand smoke exposure. There is actually more evidence linking secondhand smoke with other types of cancers in pets. Cats living in a household with a smoker have been shown to have an increased risk of developing both lymphoma and cancer of the mouth (squamous cell carcinoma). Regarding lymphoma, the risk became even greater with increased time and amount of exposure to the smoke. It is suspected that cats are at greater risk of problems from secondhand smoke because the smoke settles on their fur which is then ingested during their fastidious grooming habits. This results in ingestion of the carcinogens with high concentrations in the oral cavity.

Teens Exposed to Less Secondhand Smoke in Cars: Still, More Than 20% of Nonsmoking Students Exposed to Tobacco Smoke in Vehicles, Survey Shows

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Secondhand smoke exposure in cars declined among U.S. middle and high school students between 2000 and 2009. The number of young people who reported riding in a car with someone who was smoking cigarettes "within the past seven days" during the study period fell from about 48% to nearly 30% over a 10-year period, a new study shows. This downward trend in secondhand smoke exposure was seen across all ages of middle and high school students, genders, and ethnic groups. During this stretch of time, the number of teens who were nonsmokers rose. Kids who said they had not had a cigarette within the last 30 days went from a low of about 80% in 2000 to a high of about 88% in 2009. For the study, published online in the journal Pediatrics, researchers analyzed data collected for the National Youth Tobacco Survey. American students in grades six through 12 from public, private, and Catholic schools across the country completed the survey five different times during a 10-year span. Between 18,000 and 27,000 students participated. The researchers admit that considerable progress has been made over the last decade in reducing studentsâ�� exposure to secondhand smoke while in cars. Still, they found that nearly 23% of nonsmoking students had breathed in secondhand smoke in motor vehicles in the week leading up to the survey.

LETTER: YOUR VIEW: Secondhand smoke forces writer to live as a recluse

hstaudenmayer@comcast.net ( Linda Tipton Altoona) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

I would like to commend and thank Birmingham City Councilman Johnathan Austin for his stand on smoking. He is speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves -- children, the elderly, the debilitated. To the writer of a Jan. 27 letter ("Smoking: No need to ban on private property," Your Views), I disagree with the statement that 75 percent of people don't smoke. For five years, I have not been able to go to my grandson's athletic events because of smokers. I have never smoked, but I have severe asthma and pulmonary disease. My dad was a chain smoker. Cigarette smoke brings on asthma attacks. . . . The writer says there's no proof secondhand smoke is harmful. Smokers, get your heads out of the sand and quit living in denial. You are killing your children, your family members and friends. I am forced to be a recluse because of smokers. I am angry and bitter.

Bobbie DeRamus recalls helping to pass first indoor smoking ban

ccegavske@nrtoday.com — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Bobbie DeRamus doesn't remember things as well as she did. She's been diagnosed as being in the early stage of Alzheimer's disease, a neurological disorder devastating to short-term memory. So she thinks about the distant past. One memory that keeps coming back is when she spoke up for a ban on indoor smoking. DeRamus, 86, of Roseburg suffered severely from the secondhand cigarette smoke she inhaled at work in the 1970s and '80s. She testified several times in front of a state Senate committee when legislators were considering what became the Oregon Indoor Clean Air Act. The ban on indoor smoking in public buildings except in designated areas went into effect in 1983, the same year DeRamus left her job as a bookkeeper for Children's Services Division in Roseburg due to the damage secondhand smoke had done to her body. The ban provoked strong feelings. In a Gallup poll in 1983, 55 percent of smokers agreed they should refrain from smoking around nonsmokers. But 39 percent disagreed, and about 30 percent did not believe that secondhand smoke was hazardous to nonsmokers.