Nonsmokers Can Die From Second-Hand Smoke

Dec. 21, 1999
The American Cancer Society is urging people to protect themselves against second-hand smoke.

Did you know that second-hand smoke causes cancer? Did you know that nonsmokers can die from second-hand smoke.

As a new year approaches, the American Cancer Society (ACS) is urging people to protect themselves against second-hand smoke.

Second-hand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), has been declared a human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

In order to fulfill its mission to help save the lives of nonsmokers from cancer, the ACS strongly supports the 1999-2000 Florida Legislative Agenda, which includes state issues such as Florida Tobacco Control Programs and the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act.

According to the 1998 Center for Diease Control (CDC) report, about 692,720 Florida youth were exposed to second-hand smoke in the home in 1996.

According to the ACS research, second-hand smoke, which contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, including carbon monoxide, affects the nation yearly by causing:

  • 3,000 deaths of nonsmoking adults from lung cancer,
  • 35,000 to 40,000 deaths from heart disease in nonsmokers; and
  • a 20 percent increase in this country's 2 to 5 million asthmatic children.

For more information on cancer prevention, visit the ACS Web Site at www.cancer.org

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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