Posted on 08/17/2005 4:05:01 PM PDT by Crackingham
The effects of secondhand smoke in the United States cost nearly $10 billion every year, according to a study released on Wednesday. The Society of Actuaries said that the direct costs of secondhand smoke exposure are $4.98 billion, including expenses related to the treatment of heart disease, chronic pulmonary disease, lung cancer, asthma and other sicknesses. The study also detailed indirect costs of $4.68 billion, stemming from lost wages, reduced services and costs associated with disabilities.
"While the health effects of secondhand smoke are reduced in comparison to active smoking, the number of people exposed is so large that the costs are substantial," Society of Actuaries fellow Donald Behan said in a statement.
The group measured the costs by examining more than 200 studies that have been published since 1964 on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke.
Well, lots of people do annoying things which I don't like either, but I deal with it.
What crap!
I'm also an ex-smoker who thinks this sucks.
I've seen you do this numerous time JeanS, but only when the thread doesn't interest you and/or when it is against your beliefs. Some of us have a great intrest in subjects that don't interest you, sooooo some of us have an interest in this kind of thread and don't find it useless. I would venture to say you are abusing you power.
Which is why God gave us legs, or, it depends on what you mean by "their immediate vicinity"?
Do you mean the next room over, or the next building over, or the next town over, or the next state over, or should we just shoot em all?
It's kind of, like, etiquette to respond to people on your own thread.
Boing, Boing, Boing!! Give Tiki the prize! They can't smoke inside anywhere except in their own HOMES! That's where the tort Dorks want to go next.
Smokers kids will be suing Marlboro Dad and Virginia Slim Mom. The nephew of the Greensteins upstairs in the El Boca Vista Phase III Condominiums will be suing Ultra Lites Sheila and Stan downstairs. Forget about smoking in your home or your car. There are plenty of lawyers to go around.
The first one I have ever seen "out" themselves. I'm always wondering who they are.
We all outed ourselves on a thread last year.
Got a link, good friend moderator??
http://medicolegal.tripod.com/preventcrime.htm
(snip)Doctors long ago found that the 90% factor underlying crime is the same one underlying
lung cancer,
alcoholism,
drug abuse, and
suicide.
What is that factor? What is the common 90% factor in all these seemingly different matters? What did researchers find out about criminals? How are non-criminals turned into criminals? What is the common link? (snip)
--Check out the link at the top of my post. It is most telling information on the links between criminal behavior and tobacco smoking.
This is interesting.....
http://www.forcesduluth.com/upi.html
$ 10 Billion? Sheesh! I'll sell you all the second hand smoke you want for under $ 1 Million.
We've all 'outed' ourselves a long time ago. It's not 'news'.
Jim yanked it.
I know that when I worked in an office where lots of people smoked, my dry cleaning bill was pretty high. My suits and blouses just reeked. Of course, I could have just let them be, no one else in the office would have noticed the smoke smell on my clothes and hair.
Uh oh, the "Smoking Mod".
Smokers smoke for 20, 30 years before they die, sucking it in directly. You can't tell me that being exposed to occasional second hand smoke will kill you.
I guess I should have died in the late '50's. Or at least by the late '70's, just to be on the safe side. But no such luck. Durn. Then the late '90's rolled around and found myself still continuing sucking my pack a day directly. Well, here it is heading into the late part of whatever you call this decade and still smoking my quota.
I would advise anyone who believes they will die if they smoke for 20 or 30 years to never start smoking.
Beliefs can kill ya.
PUFF!
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