Tobacco Documents Online

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aaaSory a+d qKhadCmnlM Do we have a Mght to smoke? Over the last decade, there has been a move away from the idea of smoking as a right, to a belief that people have a right to enjoy a smoke- free environment Many people are already concerned about the consequences of passive smoking: recent surveys have shown that over two-thirds of the population believe that living or working with a heavy smoker is 'risky' or 'very risky'. A similar proportion said they were bothered either 'sometimes' or'oRen' by other people's tobacco smoke. Most people now support the introduction of restrictions both on smoking in public places such as cinemas and shops and on public transport. Smrrr hny, six,M AhMRkt - thc cgh/h rcW I491. Ji,MY SV9Mw7 Events There will be a programme of special events on the theme of passive smoking and health in the Museum on National No Smoking Day, 10 March 1993. Further Reading A reading list is available from the information desk in the East Hall. This series of exhibitions is sponsored by Nuclear Electric plc ® Nuclear Electric Science . A series of exhibitions on contemporary science S lt111Nee MYltYM LONDON li yV,il SMOKING MAY P1~~~ DAMP"...= YOUR HEALTH >r•~ - .±;.,... PASSIVE SMOKIN( A new exhibition at thi Science Museurt from 14 )anuary to 14 March 1993 VISITOI INFORMATIO

What is passive smoking? Passive smok ng is the breathing in of Dther people's tobacco smoke Over the last ten years, scientists have carned out many studies that have shown that passive smok ng can cause ill health. How do scientists study the effects of passive smoking? Evidence that passive smoking can affect health has r f~: come from large-scale surveys of non-smokers who are exposed to tobacco smoke and non-smokers who generally are not. Many studies of this sort have been • carned out. While not all of them have shown that [ passive smoking is dangerous, most support the view that passive smoking does increase the nsk of a variety of health problems. These include bronthitis,'glue ear in children, and lung cancer. Passive,smoking can also aggravate respiratory d seases, such as asthma. What Is in tobacco smoke? There are two types of smoke released by a burning cigarette. Mainstream smoke is breathed in and then exhaled by the smoker. Sidestrearn smoke is l n ht th d t i to re ra~ ease s e g air from the burning tip of the c garette. On average, only about 15% of the smoke released is inhaled by the smoker the rest is sidestream smoke. There are over 4000 chemical const tuents in tobacco smoke, many of them poisonous. Forty-three of them are carcinogens - chemicals that cause cancer by making cells grow out of control. Sidestream smoke contains different proportions of chemicals and is more dangerous to health than mainstream smoke. Scientists have shown that passive smokers do absorb chemicals from tobacco smoke. Cotinine is formed by the bady from nicotine, which is found in tobacco smoke. By measuring the levels of cot n ne in the unne of passive smokers, scientists have estimated that people who work in smoke-filled offices 'passively smoke' the equ valent of three to four cigarettes a week. Why is passive smoking bad for us? Many of the chemicals in cigarette smoke are dangerous to the body. As well as carcinogens. there are other chemicals which may cause or make worse respiratory diseases and imtate the linings of the nose, throat and lungs. A major component of s destream tobacco smoke is carbon monoxide, which stops the body using oxygen efficiently. By affecting the blood, tobacco smoke can cause problems with circulation. Scientists have shown that passive smoking increases the risk of some illnesses, including glue ear, but they are not sure why it has this effect. How can we reduce the risk from passive smokingt The Fourth Report of the Independent Scientif c Comm ttee on Smok ng and Health considered a number of measures to reduce the risk to health from tobacco smoke and passive smok ng. These included a reduction in the amounts of tar and nicotine in cigarettes. and in the amount of carbon monoxide given off by each cigarette. However the Report noted that previous attempts to reduce tar and n cotme yield had not affected sidestream smoke. In order to reduce the risk to passive smokers, the Report recommended that ways be considered to limit smoking in public and in enclosed spaces. In Britain most public transport and many public buildings have rules to restnct smoking. Other countnes have introduced more stringent laws prohibiting smoking in public places. Many institutions. includ ng the Sc ence Museum, have banned smoking in the r offices because of the risk to worke-s' health. 944fiS0848

What is passive smoking? Passive smoking is breathing in other people's tobacco smoke. Other people's tobacco smoke is sometimes called environmental tobacco smoke. Why should I he worried? Only 15 per cent of the smoke from a cigarette is inhaled by the smoker - the rest goes into the surrounding air and other people can breathe it in. Breathing air which contains tobacco smoke can be bad for your health. This is because the tiny particles and gases in tobacco smoke contain over 4000 chemicals, many of which are harmful - at least 60 are known to cause cancer. The gases also include carbon monoxide, the poisonous gas that comes out of car exhausts. I ? What is the ettect on my health? A Breathing other people's smoke is uncomfortable and can cause x nose, Ihroat N chest h"atlon X a runny noae and breatldng dlftlcultles x headaches x coughing x diuiness x sneang x nansea and lack ol x red and runnhig eyes concentratlon. If you have a long-term health problem, such as asthma, chronic bronchitis or certain allergies, passive smoking can make it worse. Doctors now say that passive smoking causes serious and sometimes fatal illnesses. The UK Government's Independent i 4 rrrrer. .MaMw IrM f,WA What's in cigarette smoke? Carbon monoxide - the same gas that comes out of car exhausts - is the main gas in cigarette smoke. The smoke also contains over 4000 other chemicals. Some of these have links with cancer in humans - begins: etc. The complete list chloride, cadmium, formaldehyd arsenic, benzene, chromium, nickel, vinyl carbon monoxide, nicotine, nitrogen oxides, 2-nitropropane, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, dimethyl- amine, 2.5-dimethylamine, ethylamine, methyl- amirre, methylpyrazines, 2-,3-, and 4-methylpyr- idines, 1-methylpyrrolidine, pyridine, pyrrolidine, rrim,*t1..IOmIRa 11trIfM-IIRP erProl- APF.V'lo *.-PtnnP Scientific Committee on Smoking and Health has estimated that several hundred non-smokers die each year from lung cancer caused by passive smoking. The risk of lung cancer from passive smoking is small, but some 50 to 100 times greater than the risk of lung cancer from exposure to asbestos. Also, passive smoking may be linked to heart disease and death from heart attack. 0

What's the effect on children's health? Babies and children who cannot avoid smoke where they live and play are at particular risk. Babies of smokers are much more likely to be taken to hospital with chest trouble in their first year of life than non-smokers' children. Children with a parent who smokes have more chest, ear, nose and throat infections than non-smokers' children. And the more cigarettes smoked at home, the greater the risk to the child. Children exposed to smoke are more likely to develop breathing problems as adults. Unhorn babies are also at risk hm passive sarokhtg. The risk to unborn babies of pregnant women who smoke has been known for many years, but it now seems that unborn babies of pregnant non-smoking women are also at risk if the women are exposed to passive smoking. Women who have been regularly exposed to passive smoking during pregnancy tend to have smaller babies. Being small at birth makes it harder for the baby to make a good start in life. O If you are pregnanl do nel smoNe. 'J Avoid smoky places. 0 Family and iMends should avoid smoking In (ront ol chUdren and pregnant women. Ask yoar gnesta nol to smoMe. 4 t What can I do to clear the air? The trouble with tobacco smoke is that it gets everywhere. Separating smokers and non-smokers in the same room may reduce the level of smoke in the non-smoking area, but this is not enough. Air filters, ventilators or extraction systems may reduce, but do not prevent, ~ .00 exposure to other people's smoke. We must make sure that non-smokers do not have to live or work in smoky conditions by ensuring that all enclosed public places are smoke-free. Where appropriate, separate rooms should be provided for smoking. a------_ ~ MON -- ~~~ ~ _- rW"Mr.rr.". Although many countries in Europe and elsewhere now have laws to ensure that smoking is restricted in public places, the British Government has taken a different approach so far. It encourages restrictions on smoking in public places. But in practice it is TAE PERMA6E OF sAM-FBEf PUBLIC PlACE3 YVORI.OWIUE Khools `COUpes 33!c phcet N enMrmW 33% IqM slnc~es 40% paEac phpt erV80X 4/ NIpMM """Mt Eq mainly left to employers and those who control public buildings and transport to decide whether or not smoking should be restricted.

What can I do about smoking at work? It's at work that most adults will have problems with passive smoking. However, many employers now have policies which guarantee smoke-free working areas. Your legal Mghls The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 makes it the employer's duty to ensure that the working environment is safe. Legally, employers are also under a general obligation to warn employees about dangerous conditions at work and to safeguard Nealrhe~ qct refY ar Wor MApb /qy(.h ~974 ~f Nrpy~ erYrlAq ,TRJr u/Rery RK•s M°„i~i/y, I q'~ R l~tl pk.R„rM ~4.ry~~ ~r~+rll,wr'a ~~' I'rsNh. ,•OYuuxnp, 'nd „,• MMn~ +, •ry rn ~ ~~rnnR ~p Ic nf ~en~ pr d.n /awlol •~O R0 ru^k. "•^'Ix./nnr ~nw, w.n„ll~,ylnWRli~ R~a/ny/ F~1'~I ~IryM"~ ~~h •k~'kndl At ` ~^; 'e ro, their welfare. Non-smokers may be able to sue their employers if they suffer health damage from passive smoking at work. This could include health damage to the unborn children of employees. Industrial tribunals may also offer some protection. Workplace Action Checklist Smokers should keep their smoke away from other people, but non-smokers can take action, too. r If you are an employer, make a healthier workplace and safeguard your legal position. Every company should have a smoke-free working policy. V If you are an employee, talk to your employer and union about passive smoking worries and your desire for a safer workplace. e - 64VS0844g 0 . V If no action is taken and tobacco smoke is polluting your workplace, contact the Environmental Health Department or Health and Safety Inspectorate who can order your employer to remove the pollution or stop work in that area. V If you think your health has been damaged because your employer is not fulfilling his or her duty, contact your union or a lawyer for advice. V If you leave your job because of a smoking problem, you may be able to take your case to an industrial tribunal. Seek legal advice for leaving a job because of a passive smoking problem.. What about smoke in public places? Many places have separate areas for people who wish to smoke. Where smoking policies have been introduced, they have proved very popular with non-smokers and smokers alike. This applies to schools, hospitals, restaurants, buses, cinemas, pubs and many other places where people spend time and may have to put up with a smoky atmosphere. If you're a consumer of any of these services, find out who's in charge and ask them to provide smoke-free areas. If you're a manager who provides a service to the public, introduce a policy which provides smoke-free accommodation - if you have not already done so. Passive smoking is not only unpleasant for most people, it's also a health hazard. Who can help? Contact any of the organisations listed overleaf. They can provide ? information and support. 7 Thb IaINt wn pro0und a a eowboritWb vnntun bT IM UK Mom ffilatlon PiAlatloM Ferom: AfM Actlon en tmoldq rid Nolth SrI W h hUacal Atsodatlon INahh Eftatlba AutlaNty Ikaltli Umtloe Baar1 for Scetlm0 TM Ik.nh Premotloe AomeT lar northern b•elme IIIMIh N'EIII00pb Aplhqily rOP wiltr ouiT

Thcsc cxrganisalions can proviae lurther information: \SII :1ci-u ..u Sun•L-_ and Ilk:'i1h 5-I I Mortimer Street London W I N 7R H Tel: 071-935 3519 Fax: 071-935 3463 ASH Northern Ireland The Ulster Cancer Foundation 40-44 Eglantine Avenue Belfast BT9 6DX Tel: 0232 663281 Fax: 0232 660081 ASH Scottand 8 Frederick Street Edinburgh EH2 2H8 Tel: 031-225 4723 Fax: 031-220 6604 ASH Wale. 142 Whitchurch Road Cardiff CF4 3NA Tel: 0222 614399 Fax:U222 619288 QUIT 102 Gloucester Place London W I H 3DA Tel: 071-487 2858 Fax: 071-935 2650 O Heahh Educat~ion Authoriwy 1991 11581. 185448 290 4 Primed in England 250M 5N2 Il..rlll~ IiJu..~unu 1uUnniu Hamilton House Mabledon Place London WC I H 9TX Tel: 071-383 3833 Fax: 071-387 0550 HerlthEdu.•xrii+n Iioard Inr Scotland. Woodburn House Canaan Lane Edinburgh E10 4SG Tel: 0314-t7 8044 Fax: 031-452 8140 Tht Hralth Prnnxm Uan :#ga•n.. fm \ur~ha•rn lrcland 18 Ormeau Avenue Bclfast BT2 SHS Tel: 0232 311611 Fax: 0232 311711 Flealtli.Pr..mnuan Auth„nt. Im 11'alc. Brunel House 2 Fitzalan Road Cardiff CF2 1 EB Tel: 0222 472472 Fax: 0222 480851 For locadinlorma.non Environmental Health Departments- look in the telephone book under your local District or Borough Council- The Health and Safcty Execvtivo- hued in the telephone book under Health and Safen•. Health Eduptlon or Health Promotion Units- listed in the telephone book under local health authority in,En8land and Vc•a1es; health board in 5cotland and health and personal social senices in Konhem Ireland. ISSttt

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