Posted on 01/28/2005 1:50:34 PM PST by SheLion
Just how harmful is environmental tobacco smoke?
Not as harmful as the Environmental Protection Agency or those anti-secondhand smoke commercials would have one believe, according to Roger A. Jenkins, Ph.D., consultant to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory's Chemical Sciences division.
Jenkins presented "Human Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Is What You See What You Get?" at ORNL this week.
"Some people wish I didn't have the findings I have," Jenkins said. "Others say, 'Gee, if this is true, why does the EPA continue to talk about this?' [The research] steps on people's toes, and that's exactly what I want it to do."
Environmental tobacco smoke is a highly diluted mixture of sidestream (70 to 90 percent) and exhaled mainstream (10 to 30 percent) of tobacco smoke.
"'Secondhand' smoke is probably misleading, since most ETS is derived from smoke which is emitted by the smoldering firecone of a cigarette," Jenkins said.
According to Jenkins, the typical smoker inhales 480 milligrams of smoke a day and 32 milligrams of nicotine per day. In a home where smoking is unrestricted, the typical non-smoker will inhale the equivalent of .45 milligrams of smoke particles and .028 milligrams of nicotine.
There are several science-related hurdles to overcome in educating the public about ETS, Jenkins said. The first is getting the public to understand the difference between personal beliefs and science.
"In a society where there are still serious debates about evolution, this can be a real challenge," he said.
The second is avoiding the "means justifying the end syndrome," which Jenkins says involves the distortion of science in the name of preventing youth from smoking.
The third major hurdle is demanding "public policy types" provide perspective for the facts they declare.
"Sure, there are 43 carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) in ETS, but there are also probably about 40 carcinogens in diesel exhaust and wood smoke," Jenkins said.
Indoor air pollution is also caused by many things other than non-tobacco sources, including cleaning, cooking, consumer products like Raid and wood burning.
"As (physician) Paracelsus said in the early 1500's, 'the poison is in the dose,'" Jenkins said. "We still continue to eat lettuce and take showers despite their carcinogens. Life is risky business."
Jenkins is simply remaining true to his profession by bringing forth this politically incorrect information, he says.
"When you start tinkering with science because you want to achieve some political aim, you are no longer a scientist."
Jenkins retired in September from his position as leader of the Environmental Chemistry and Mass Spectrometry Group in the Chemical Sciences Division at ORNL. He has authored or co-authored more than 45 open literature publications in the area of field analytical chemistry and tobacco smoke characterization and human exposure. He is the lead author of "The Chemistry of Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Composition and Measurement," Second Edition.
Jenkins has also acted as an expert witness in several high-profile litigations involving environmental and mainstream tobacco smoke composition and exposure
Damn! This is a keeper for me,which I will print and carry with me.
That, to me, is an obnoxious, stinky habit that is engaged in by the none too bright.
I don't know you at all, but because you've done this foul deed, I'm going to insult your intelligence.
Now, it makes no difference that it impacts my life none at all. I want to dictate to you how you should run yours.
I'm not going to ask the government to tax your booger picking habit, but I am going to take every opportunity to tell you that you're as dumb as a dying petunia for doing so.
Maybe by doing that enough times, I can get you to quit.
and smell their stinking a**es from a mile away also!
Actually, they got the kiddie train shut down because 'someone might get hurt'.
That's just it, I'm not surprised. See, like I've said, I don't mind hearing a different opinion, but why does it always have to be insulting?
If I came onto a thread and said, simply, "I don't like smoking.", I would get the same reaction out of people. I've told you before, after that I get rude just for the fun of it.
Maybe, but don't you fart in my personal space and expect me to like it.
Actually, that was pretty clever. I enjoyed that, thank you.
I find your childish attacks a character flaw, if you like.
Regardless of how I couch that comment within three or four posts somebody gets upset and calls me a name (Nazi is a popular one)
If it quacks like a Nazi....
So, I go ahead and further state that I believe being a smoker represents some sort of deficiency.
I think your girlish whining represents some sort of deficiency.
Honestly, find any first post, or two, that I have made on any of these threads that was the least bit confrontational. I only become rude in defense.
See: "Arguing like a woman."
If you smokers don't want to hear somebody's opinion that smoking stinks, take your posts to a smokers' chat room or place a notice in the title that the thread is a smokers only circle jerk.
Can't take the heat?
As long as smokers keep posting these articles I will continue to pop in an express my opinion that smoking is gross and often obnoxious to non-smokers.
And I will continue to pop in and express my opinion that smoking Nazis are often obnoxious to smokers.
I know you think you have the "moral" high ground because public opinion is in your favor, but I will also continue to pop up.
Maybe, but don't you fart in my personal space and expect me to like it
***
Then I suggest you enjoy the cig smoke cause I could make it ALOT worse...roflmao.
If I came onto a thread and said, simply, "I don't like smoking.", I would get the same reaction out of people.
Hmmm. Well, I for one can't recall someone jumping all over another poster that has simply said "I don't like smoking". It's usually followed up with "...and I think I shouldn't ever have to be around it." That'll get you in trouble every time. There have been plenty of other non-smokers that volunteer that they don't like smoking, but they support other's right to do so, without being insulting. They are usually (from what I have seen) treated quite cordially.
As I said before, if you are being rude in return, then you reap what you sow. If you're doing it just "for the fun of it", it seems to me that you're actually doing it to reinforce your opinions of smokers as none-to-bright and none-too-polite. I don't know many folks who are polite when they are deliberately provoked.
Makes life easier, doesn't it? I just wish non-smokers would be as polite. *sigh* Many are, but the rude ones really get on my nerves, the same way rude smokers get on theirs, I would imagine.
But, but non-smokers... well, the smoking nazis among them... are right, so, you see
using liberal logic
they can do as they please, courtesy be danged.
Where'd you get them boogers, boy?
I guess they never heard the adage, "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar."
Nothing I hate worse than being lectured by some busy-body with an agenda.
Are you sure you aren't describing a lush?
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