Tobacco Control
Tobacco remains a major public health problem. It is a unique consumer product: tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 chemicals, many of them known carcinogens and toxins, and some of them known to damage the blood vessels. It can thus affect every area of the body.
Apart from the amount of disease, disability and premature death that it causes, tobacco is unique among preventable causes of disease because:
- It is always dangerous, rather than being dangerous in excess or when abused, as with other preventable causes of death
- It is highly addictive
- It is actively and energetically promoted by one of the world’s largest and most powerful industries
- Its use harms not only those who consume it, but also other people who are exposed to their smoke
(Adapted from Doctors and Tobacco, Tobacco Control Resource Centre, 2000)
The health consequences of smoking tobacco are significant – 1 in 2 regular smokers will die prematurely and of these a half will die between the ages of 45 and 69.
But it is not only active smokers who are affected; those breathing in second hand smoke can also become ill. Second-hand smoke has been calculated to cause:
* Nearly 1 in 10 of all deaths due to stroke
* Nearly 1 in 20 of all deaths due to asthma
* More than 1 in 30 of all deaths due to heart disease
* More than 1 in 35 of all lung cancers
(from: Takala J. Introductory Report: Decent Work – Safe Work, International Labour Office, Geneva, 2002)
Second-hand smoke is made up of side stream smoke – the smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette, and exhaled mainstream smoke – the smoke drawn through the cigarette by the smoker and then breathed out.
Second hand smoke is dangerous because it contains higher levels of nicotine, ammonia, benzene, carbon monoxide and several cancer causing agents than mainstream smoke and the particles of second-hand smoke are smaller than those of mainstream smoke. This means that they can travel deeper into the lungs where they can cause major harm.
John Griffiths has been actively involved in tobacco control for many years and has experience of managing media led cessation campaigns, smoke free workplace initiatives in the UK and Europe, the production of guidance and the development of educational resources
For examples of our work go to:
Why Smoking in the Workplace Matters - An Employer's Guide
Tobacco in the Workplace: Meeting the Challenge
Health at Work-
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