Essay On Why Secondhand Smoking Should Be Banned

Since 1964, 2,500,000 people have died from secondhand smoke (Secondhand smoke (SHS) facts, Dec. 20, 2016). There are two types of secondhand smoke: sidestream and mainstream. Sidestream smoke is the smoke that comes off of the burning end of the cigarette. Mainstream smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker (Health risks of secondhand smoke, 2017). Both kinds of secondhand smoke cause cancer and are unhealthy to breathe in. Public indoor smoking is one of the main places where people are exposed to secondhand smoke. Public indoor smoking should be banned nationwide due to adult health concerns, child health concerns, and personal rights.
There Are Many Adult Health Issues Caused By Indoor Public Smoking Exposure to secondhand smoke can cause many
There are approximately 3,000 adult US deaths from lung cancer that has been caused by secondhand smoke exposure. Along with causing cancer, adults have a greater chance of developing asthma later in life if exposed to secondhand smoke. There have been studies that link secondhand smoke to stroke and heart attacks in adults. Secondhand smoke exposure causes approximately 46,000 heart attacks each year in the United States. The exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by about 30 percent. Along with causing cancer some studies show that secondhand smoke causes mental and emotional changes in adults. These changes include cases of depression and other emotional changes. More studies are needed in order to prove the links between more mental health issues and secondhand smoke (Health risks of secondhand smoke, 2017). There are 7,000 identified chemicals found in secondhand smoke. Of those 7,000 chemicals 250 are known to be harmful and dangerous to the body including: hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, and ammonia. There are at least 69 cancer causing chemicals identified in secondhand smoke. Some of those cancer causing chemicals include: arsenic, benzene,