Tobacco Documents Online

209 L~/,1/( pryEOnRESPIRATORYMERAA' 1720nepUaou.PO.0o.75287.Danas.Tx15235(21G)N63540 ~,/ ..,TA~ERKA"A55aiAn the COMPREHENSIVE SMOKING PREVENTION EDUCATION ACT OF 1981 by . JOHN R. WALTON, RRT PRESIDENT , _ As President of the American Association for R come the opportunity to submit a statement for hensive Smoking Prevention Education Act of 19 professional health care organization represen ers across the nation. Respiratory therapy pr suffering from both acute and chronic respirav emphysema, bronchitis, black and brown lung di! conditions that are treated by respiratory ther vated and exacerbated by cigarette smoking. Tt a great concern for the detrimental effects of their patients. As an Association we are also smoking issue often neglected by other organiza sive smoking. - Passive smoking can be defined as the smoke emi cigar, or pipe (side-stream smoke), and the smc stream smoke) which comes into contact with oth Tobacco is a complex mixture of particles, liqu a variety of toxic and hazardous compounds when nicotine, carbon monoxide, cadmium, nitrogen di dehyde, hydrogen sulphide, are among the most they are non-smokers or smokers. Non-smokers need to be aware of the disturbing higher concentrations of noxious compounds than smoker. For example, side-stream smoke can hav. chree times as much 3-4 benzpyrene, five times . tines as much ammonia as mainstream smoke does.

209 As President of the American Association for Respiratory Therapy (AART), I wel- come the opportunity to submit a statement for the record of S. 1929, the "Compre- hensive Smoking Prevention Education Act of 1981". The AART is a 23,000 member professional health care organization representing respiratory therapy practition- ers across the nation. Respiratory therapy practitioners deliver care to patients suffering from both acute and chronic respiratory diseases. For example, asthma, emphysema, bronchitis, black and brown lung diseases, are among the most common conditions that are treated by respiratory therapy. These conditions are aggra- vated and exacerbated by cigarette smoking. The respiratory therapy community has a great concern for the detrimental effects of cigarette smoking on the health of their patients. As an Association we are also concerned with an aspect of the smoking issue often neglected by other organizations, that is the hazards of pas- sive smoking. Passive smoking can be defined as the smoke emitted from the end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe (side-stream smoke), and the smoke exhaled by the smoker (main- stream smoke) which comes into contact with others. Tobacco is a complex mixture of particles, liquids, and gases, which combine into a variety of toxic and hazardous compounds when burned. Compounds such as tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, cadmium, nitrogen dioxide, amnonia, benzene, formal- dehyde, hydrogen sulphide, are among the most dangerous to the individual whether they are non-smokers or smokers. Non-smokers need to be aware of the disturbing fact that side-stream smoke has higher concentrations of noxious compounds than mainstream smoke inhaled by the smoker. For example, side-stream smoke can have twice as much tar and nicotine, three times as much 3-4 benzpyrene, five times as much carbon monoxide, and fifty times as much ammonia as mainstream smoke does.

210 - 2 - Perhaps one of the most hazardous compounds emitted by a burning cigarette is carbon monoxide. This colorless, ordorless gas is created by incomplete com- bustlon,and both car exhaust and tobacco smoke put it into the air. When inhaled the carbon monoxide gas "bumps" oxygen molecules out of the redblood cells, preventing oxygen from attaching to the cell and forming a new compound called carboxyhemoglobin. Carbon monoxide also remains in the bloodstream and is dif- ficult to remove. After three or four hours, half of the excess carbon monoxide is still in the bloodstream. A study done in 1980 by James R. White, Ph.D. and Herman F. Froeb, M,D, evaluated the long term effects of passive and voluntary smoking on the small airway func- tions in 2100- middle aged subjects.l The findings showed that regardless of sex, non-smokers chronically exposed to tobacco smoke have-lower flow rates of exhaled air than non-smokers not exposed. In addition, values in passive smok- ers were not significantly different from those in light smokers and those who did not inhale. One of the most recent and most shocking research studies has been published in Japan. Conducted Takeshi Hirayama, M.D. of Tokyo's National Cancer Center Re- search Institute, 91,540 non-smoking wives aged 40 years and above were followed for 14 years. 2 The study showed that non-smoking women married to heavy smoking men (20 or more cigarettes a day) were up to four times as likely to die of lung cancer as women married to non-smokers. Other studies have shown that: 1. Children with a smoking parent or parents have nearly twice as many res- piratory illnesses as compared to those children of non-smoking parents. 2. Exposure to passive smoke can hasten the onset of angina in people with heart disease. 211 -3- 3.•Individuals suffering from asthma can sever by exposure to cigarette smoke. 4. It can damage the action of cilia, the micr ways of the lungs. 5. In healthy, nonallergic people it has been sneezino,coughing, sore throat, hoarsenss, serious side effects. :;s more research is conducted and the results tab ctive effects of passive smoking mount. It has a toxic, harmful, and carcinogenic. The public mus effects of this habit. The bill S.1929, makes grr lic on the specific dangers of smoking. We urge ing this bill,not to neglect the serious and ofte smoker. In addition, the Office on Smoking and Health mus ;overnment commitment relevant to this entire iss ernment officials must not allow political eonsid, tobacco industry to negatively sway or change the duct that contributes to over 300,000 premature d in lost productivity each year. -search and public education must continue and i, have any hope of reducing the tremendous social e and death from the most preventable cause - cigar REFERENCES ~. uhite,J.S., Froeb,H.F., "Small Airways Dysfurn Exposed to Tobacco Smoke", New England Journa 2. Hirayama, T., "Non-smoking Wives of Heavy Smol Cancer", British Medical Journal, 282: Jan. I~

211 3 3.•Individuals suffering from asthma can severely aggravate their condition by exposure to cigarette smoke. . . 4. It can damage the action of cilia, the microscopic hairs that line the air- ways of the lungs. 5. In healthy, nonallergic people it has been shown to cause eye irritation, sneezino, coughing, sore throat, hoarseiss, headache, and in some cases more serious side effects. As more research is conducted and the results tabulated the evidence on the neg- ative effects of passive smoking mount. It has already been shown to be extremely toxic, harmful, and carcinogenic. The public must be made aware of the harmful effects of this habit. The blll 5.1929, makes great progress in educating the pub- lic on the specific dangers of smoking. We urge the Senate Committees,when amend- ing this bill,not to neglect the serious and often overlooked are of the passive smoker. In addition, the Office on Smoking and Health must recieve adequate and steadfast government commitment relevant to this entire issue. Committee members and gov- ernment officials must not allow political considerations and pressures from the tobacco industry to negatively sway or change their opinions on an issue and pro- duct that contributes to over 300,000 premature deaths and over 25 billion dollars in lost productivity each year. _ Research and public education must continue and increase markedly if we are to have any hope of reducing the tremendous social expense, irritation, suffering and death from the most preventable cause - cigarette smoking. REFERENCES 1. White,J.S. , Froeb,H.F., "Small Airways Dysfunction in Non-smokers Chronically Exposed to Tobacco Smoke", New England Journal of Medicine, 302: 1980, 720-723. 2. Hirayama, T., "Non-smoking Wives of Heavy Smokers Have a Higher Risk of Lung Cancer", British Medical Journal, 282: Jan. 17, 1981. I I I