Is Second-Hand Smoke Really Harmful?
A question many restaurant owners might ask is if second-hand smoke is really as harmful as health officials and doctors say. The answer is yes. In fact, it’s harmful for all types of people of all ages – men, women and children. Both smokers and nonsmokers can experience health problems from second-hand smoke according to several studies performed by the United States Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Here are some statistics provided by these studies. ETS Links to Cancer Approximately 3,000 people die every year with lung cancer that’s caused by environment tobacco smoke (ETS), another word for second-hand smoke. ETS is linked to several different cancers in the body such as lung cancer, nasal sinus cavity cancer, breast cancer and bladder cancer. Children and Health Risks from ETS Around 200,000 to 1,000,000 children with asthma have a worsened condition because of exposure to ETS. Middle ear infections are also caused by exposure to ETS, a
