Cigarette smoking in public - Essay Example

A smoker does not have any right to bring harm to other non-smokers in a public place. Besides, tobacco smoke is well-known for the irritant effect on eyes, nose, throat and airways passages. In the year 2000 the US National Institutes of Health included environmental tobacco smoke (the exhaled as well as the smoke directly out of a burnt cigar) was incorporated in a list of known human carcinogens. This decision was mainly based on the observed causal relationship between passive exposure to tobacco smoke and human lung cancer (Quit 1-6).

Researchers have found that the toxic substances released in the cigarette smoke include more than 4000 substances. Each one of them has a different impact on the human system. Among all the other substances nicotine is an extremely toxic alkaloid which can have an impact of ganglionic stimulant and depressant in both smokers as well as non-smokers. Additionally, carbon monoxide is another substance that is released that interferes with oxygen transport and utilization in the body (Holbrook 2516).

A passive smoker is exposed to deadly chemicals including arsenic ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, benzene, and vinyl chloride for no mistake of his. These chemicals are known carcinogens, and are responsible for heart disease, and other lung problems. There is no safe level of exposure to passive smoke. In my opinion non-smokers should not be subjected to this sickening habit. I am not saying to ban smoking in public places or take away a smoker’s rights, but I am just supporting the non-smokers.

I would have definitely been happy if smoking was completely banned, but since this is not feasible, it should be banned entirely in public places. It is important to have specific designated smoking areas set aside from places of interest for non-smokers. Such places can be a contribution from the government or from the cigarette manufacturing companies. The smokers should understand that another person should not be forced to breathe in these dangerous particles just because they are in a common place such as park, restaurant, or a movie theater.

Everyone has a right to breath in unpolluted air and it is the responsibility of the government and policy makers to provide this basic necessity. I am not saying that the smokers should be isolated from the society, but when there are several private day-to-day activities that smokers and non-smokers do privately, such as bathing, having sex, etc, so then why not add smoking to this list? Smokers need to have civic sense. They should understand that smoking is injurious not only to them but also to all passive smokers.

Smoking can also have serious impact on the unborn child if a pregnant woman is in the vicinity of a smoker while smoking. Today, there are several passive smokers who suffer from infertility, lung cancer, heart problems, etc. just because their associates were addicted to smoking. I strongly support that in public places such as park, office, schools, hospitals, shopping malls etc, public smoking should be a punishable offence. Additionally, there can be places specially designed for smokers in all these places.

If a smoker is asked to go into a room with petrol or kerosene cans, I am sure that the smoker will not lit his cigar, as he knows that it is dangerous for his life. If this can be the attitude of smoker towards his own life, why should he play with the lives of others by smoking before them? I have a non-smoker friend who was a