Do you know anyone who's died from second hand smoke?

[puckluck]

Another expert squashing you Blankall. No offence, but I think it is time to concede.

[SHOGUN]

Am I the only one who holds my breath whenever second hand smoke gets right in my face? lolol

[NBC]

I remember reading an article about the problematic nature of Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ets) in a medical/science journal a few years ago - I think it may have been the Lancet but I could be wrong. The article stated that the essence of the dangers of ETS is the temperature gradient between the burning tip (end) of the tobacco product and the area closer to the filter where the smoke is drawn from. This difference in temperature, which was something in the neighborhood of 5x higher at the tip, creates a different set of variables in terms of ETS.

Chemicals will react differently when placed under varying levels of environmental pressures such as heat. This is the crux of the problem. While exhaled smoke is highly unpleasant and can be lachrymatory in effect, it's toxic properties are far less than the smoke that emanates from the burning tip of the cigarette or cigar. If cigarettes were, as one poster mentioned, just tobacco leaves, then this would not be a significant as an issue as society is faced with. However, this is not the case and ETS will continue to present a unique and highly-divisive major health concern for years to come.

In terms of an analogy: Old barbed-wire fence posts were coated in coal-tar creosote, a substance which is a known human carcinogen. Now the fence posts framing many millions of acres of good prairie land are harmless to humans and animals alike. I just wouldn't want to sit around a campfire that is using them for firewood.

[FlamesAddiction]

Incomplete combustion of any organic substance will produce polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons - many of which are toxic and carcinogens. It doesn't matter if it is tobacco, marijuana, incense or cedar. Burining your food while cooking will also produce some of the same chemicals (I believe burnt meat will produce benzo-pyrene which can cause cancer).

[Smartcar]

It makes sense to require smokers to be 5m from a doorway, a) there is more distance between smokers so it's not as concentrated, and b) the likelihood of smoke drifting into the building is decreased. Some office buildings have dozens of smokers outside.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by Smartcar

It makes sense to require smokers to be 5m from a doorway, a) there is more distance between smokers so it's not as concentrated, and b) the likelihood of smoke drifting into the building is decreased. Some office buildings have dozens of smokers outside.

You know what makes even more sense to me? Being 5m away from any path that leads to an entryway to a building.

If I have to walk up set of ramp or a longer set of stairs that lead to a building and need to walk directly past someone who is puffing away but still outside the 5m range from the actual doorway, something is flawed.

Where I worked, right as the smoking legislation was passed, people would literally sit lined up across the stairs and leave a spot for people to walk up the middle.

[DuffMan]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I do. As a matter of fact my grandmother died from second hand smoke from my grandfather.

My grandmother lives in a rural area in Malaysia that has no traffic, and low to zero polution. The back of her house borders the edge of the rainforest. The herbs and spices are available in the woods and she usually picks them herself, occasionally buying spices from the local market. Any meat is either grown on her land and slaughtered by her (she only eats chicken and fish), or occasionally bought at the local market. My grandmother is the last few true village mountain people.

However, she developed lung cancer and died from it. The first thing the doctor asked her when she was diagnosed was, "Are there any smokers in your household." My grandfather is the only one that smokes, and he is a heavy smoker.

So yes, I do know someone who has died from cancer directly as a result of second hand smoking.

How long did your GF live until?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by TheyCallMeBruce

I do. As a matter of fact my grandmother died from second hand smoke from my grandfather.

My grandmother lives in a rural area in Malaysia that has no traffic, and low to zero polution. The back of her house borders the edge of the rainforest. The herbs and spices are available in the woods and she usually picks them herself, occasionally buying spices from the local market. Any meat is either grown on her land and slaughtered by her (she only eats chicken and fish), or occasionally bought at the local market. My grandmother is the last few true village mountain people.

However, she developed lung cancer and died from it. The first thing the doctor asked her when she was diagnosed was, "Are there any smokers in your household." My grandfather is the only one that smokes, and he is a heavy smoker.

So yes, I do know someone who has died from cancer directly as a result of second hand smoking.

Originally Posted by DuffMan

How long did your GF live until?

His girlfiend is dead?!

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by flameswin

His girlfiend is dead?!

Think he meant grandfather.

[T@T]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Do you realize how stupid this sounds. It's not like smoking cuts you off as a healthy 65 year old. It speeds up the aging process. So instead being 90in a nursing home, you're going to be 65.

You've obviously never seen anyone die from lung cancer, it's horrible.

Actually yes I have, 2 people in fact,my first ex-wife's mother(age 46) and a family friend (60 ish) died a long horrible death full of morphine and even demerol whereas the family couldn't even communicate with them in the last few months,very sad but. they weren't smokers!

Everybody,every animal has the ability to grow a cancer tumor,how your body fights it's ability is the test, the real way to get cancer is stress IMO..not having a smoke!

But if it makes you feel better and less stressed about not being around someone who is smoking I guess you'll live longer...but please.. don't stress about it.!!

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by T@T

Actually yes I have, 2 people in fact,my first ex-wife's mother(age 46) and a family friend (60 ish) died a long horrible death full of morphine and even demerol whereas the family couldn't even communicate with them in the last few months,very sad but. they weren't smokers!

Everybody,every animal has the ability to grow a cancer tumor,how your body fights it's ability is the test, the real way to get cancer is stress IMO..not having a smoke!

But if it makes you feel better and less stressed about not being around someone who is smoking I guess you'll live longer...but please.. don't stress about it.!!

You should forward your opinion to the experts before someone else profits on your findings.

Stress causes cancer, not cigarettes. I think I've heard it all in this thread.