| Second hand smoking came to the lime-light in the | | | | The announcement by the CDC of the decline of |
| early 1980s when a Japanese researcher noticed that | | | | second hand smoke even though still showing that a |
| people who lived with smokers also suffered from | | | | significant number of people especially young children |
| smoking related illnesses and disorders. Since then | | | | are still affected by second hand smoke is a cause |
| numerous other studies have been completed which | | | | for celebration. It clear shows that anti-smoking laws |
| soundly point to these initial Japanese findings. | | | | and regulations preventing public place smoking have |
| The wide acceptance of the effects and dangers of | | | | been well hided. Children remain vulnerable because |
| second had smoke has largely encouraged most | | | | they often live with smoking parents or siblings. What |
| measures that limit smoking in public places. This | | | | then is required is to extend the laws banning public |
| acknowledgment of the dangers of second hand | | | | smoking into homes in order to once and for all protect |
| smoke made the problem and concern not only that of | | | | children from smoking parents and siblings. |
| the smoker but a society wide problem. In as much as | | | | The success of stop smoking laws leading to second |
| pro-tobacco groups cry human rights violations of | | | | hand smoke decline is sadly confined to the developed |
| smokers rights, the counter argument is that smokers | | | | world. In poorer developing countries such as China |
| violate the right to health and right to life of the general | | | | with 350 million smokers, second hand smoke is still |
| public. | | | | affecting millions of innocent people on a daily basis. |
| Recently the CDC released a report that showed a | | | | The problem is not only at the smokers level but also |
| decline in second hand smoke compared to the 80s | | | | at the government level which is not keen to tamper |
| and 90s levels. The decline is in the region of 70% and | | | | with lucrative tobacco tax dollars. More pressure and |
| is arrived at by comparing study results from cotinine | | | | campaigning is needed to convince these particular |
| tests done in the 80s to those done recently. Cotinine | | | | governments of medium to long term health costs of a |
| is a metabolite of nicotine. Nicotine does not stay long | | | | sick population. |
| in the body in its original form. Once inhaled and in the | | | | The decline is second hand smoking in western |
| bloodstream it changes after a short period of time to | | | | countries shows that it is possible to bring into control |
| cotinine. Researchers do blood tests to test the | | | | second hand smoking even in the developing countries |
| presence of cotinine which is a tell-tell sign of the | | | | when the right policies and willingness is established. |
| presence of nicotine. | | | | |