Tobacco Documents Online

P _ 1 S ,: E YJ ASH I) 0 =~ C JtJ'L'-11-~0 WED 1-~> "S CENTRAL LEAflER " Cae +wpros +eoop Auexland $uDurDan, z r MAR 19~tt P,o, 8ng 13.33D, Dnahun a Aucx3and, Nlsr Z.alan~ talapndn! a1D•107 F4a 44f•E41 I~ preparesbiQ back smoking b ill Where there's smoke there's fire and emotions are heating up as the Smoke Free Indoor Environ- ment Bill begins to snowbail, Visiting from Washin~ion DC is Dr James Repace, a physicist wit~i the Indoor Air pro• gramne of the US Environmental Protection Agency. Dr Repace is in New Zea7and to give evidence In favour af the bilt, - He was to appear before the select corntndttee in WeUington but it has been postponed untfl Easter, His evzdence wifl be documented on videotape. Sitting on the third floor oi the Albert Plaza building downtown, he instructs me to look outside. "What you'll notice about the buildings is that most of them have windows which don't apen," he says. He says the effect is that office workers and astronauts share the same environment. ' "Both are dependent on machine devices to remove pollutants from the air." However, comparisons between the air filter systems of space capsules and office buildings are staggering. "The ventilation filter system in space capsules is almost perfect. In some buildings the air is not cleaned but goes on to be recycled." The term sick buildings is used to describe oifices uith inadequate air ventilation. "We now have fndoor air pollution. People in si,ck buildings suffer from malaise of a31 sorts. ,.rhey corne down with headaches, nausea. eye, nose and thrAat irritations and burning lungs.%'-., The problems of sick buildings are compounded theine amount of time peopie actually spend inside "Sociologists say humans are now spending up to 90% of their time indoors. "And the other 10% isn't spent outside - it's spent commuting, which means people are still inside." The distribution of uncleaned air through build- ings carries carcinogens (cancer producjng sub- stancesl to non-smokers and smokers atike. But the risk to smokers is even greater, says Dr Repace. "We know there are 43 carcinogens in tobacco. Smokers are put at greater risk in sick buildings where thcre is tobacco smoke," Across the Urtited States the practice of separate ventilation systems is spreading. Smokers have their own designated areaS,,. But Dr Repace says studies in the US and China have shown smokers to be at a greater risk of lung cancer because of other smokers' smoke. The only real solution is to ban smoking in office buildings, Dr Repace belleves most employers would lis in favour of such a ban. "It's in'the interests of their employees." Asked about the rights of smokers to have a cigarette Dr Repace emphatically replies; "No- body has the right to pollute. "If employers are unwilling to place bans then it Is up to the government to step In. "J et's face It, smokers aren't stupid - they know tobacco i$ harmfui, so if work bans have to be legislated then so be it." It's important to remember that smokers are human too, says Dr Repace. "in buildings where smoking is to be banned, smoke cessation programmes are offered." "Most smokers would love to quit. But they need help." In New Zealand lung cancer claims 4000 lives each year, "That's a lot of smokers. a dvertising agencies have portrayed this glamorous image of smokers, "But it's the children they're after. Adults don't take up smoking." Dr Ftepace''says'the sporticigarette adverts are insidsous. "People argue about the money. Maybe it's time tor the community and businesses to assume responsibility for sports. "Smoking has been around for hundreds of years. But now people have the cold hard facts. Snioking is harmful and if you're a parent or a spouse you're harming others," Dr Repace knows personally the cost smoking can have on a family. He has never smoked but his father did, "He tried to quit hut he couidn't, He died of lung cancer at 59, My mother was a widow for ts years. "That's the awful thing about smoking when it breaks up a family. It's the side you don't grt to see."