Should Smoking Be Banned Outdoors?

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SPECIAL TO THE NEWS HERALD

By Brandi Behlke

Should we ban smoking outdoors?

Now before you start screaming at the paper, just read the rest of the article and consider what I have to say.

When I say “outdoors” I am not referring to your front yard or the parking lot of the local strip mall. I am referring to public parks and recreation facilities where adults and children spend time.

I am sure that most of you believe that smoking outdoors is a “safe” way to smoke around other people. I used to think the same thing. I thought that if everyone smoked outside then the secondhand smoke would dissipate and not cause anyone any harm. Boy was I wrong. And I do not like to be wrong so I did my research and found the following:

• The California Air Resources Board (CARB) did a study in 2003 to measure the nicotine concentrations in outdoor areas. Areas of study included outside an airport, college, government center, office complex and amusement park. It was found that these areas contained nicotine concentrations comparable only with indoor secondhand smoke concentrations.
  
• Secondhand smoke rises only a few yards in the air before cooling and falling back to the earth. This smoke contains over 3000 chemicals that will saturate the ground, animals and people that are in the area. Depending on the wind, the smoke could travel and descend on persons in other areas. For example: A person may be smoking outside of the old court house on a windy day and have their secondhand smoke affect a person that is standing in line at the movie theater. (Repace Associates, 2005)

It is because of the above research that I would like to see our parks and recreation areas go smoke free. Not only would we be protecting the health of our residents, we would also be protecting the environment by reducing the amount of littered cigarette butts.

Each year in the United States alone, more than 88 tons of cigarette butts are littered. Cigarette butts are made up of carcinogenic filled cellulose acetate (plastic) fibers that last for years. Not only that, but the paper surrounding the cigarette is made of ultra fine toxic fibers that disintegrate and are released into the air and groundwater.

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

For more information about the quitting smoking or to schedule a tobacco education program, contact Blue Ridge HealthCare’s Tobacco Prevention Coordinator Brandi Behlke at 580-6728.

The second largest employer in Burke County, Blue Ridge HealthCare serves a four-county area and includes Grace and Valdese hospitals, Blue Ridge Home HealthCare, Grace Heights and College Pines Health & Rehabilitation Centers, Grace Ridge Retirement Community, Phifer Wellness Center and a number of physician practices.