The 'truth' about tobacco smoke

oakridger.com ^ | January 28, 2005 | Ellen Rogers

[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

[Mears]

I'm astonished that someone would send a Freepmail like that.

Must be one of those very immature folks who is used to getting their own way and just can't discuss something without hurling out junior high school type insults.

Oh man,this entire thread has just made me want to light up----addictive behaviour,you know. LOL

Good night,She,and don't let the bastards get you down(as if they would).

[Porterville]

I'll just try and keep toxic stuff out of my body period... tobacco, Tylenol, drugs, whatever.... cancer will bite you if you ain't watching out for yourself.

[DJ MacWoW]

Your welcome! The things one learns from Readers Digest are diverse. Actually, I was surprised they printed it since they've gotten so PC.

[LisaMalia]

Smoking disfigures your body, from the inside out. Especially, the change in a womans skin, because she smokes, is apparent more than the woman cares to know. Interesting statistic: 9 out of 10 people who buy cigarettes at gas filling stations, are women; and among them, most do that buying on their way home from work; and after that, on their way out for the evening.

Not sure what point you are trying to make, but I am a smoker, and 48 years old. You are more than welcome to look at my picture on my profile here. I'm no beauty queen, but I've seen non-smoking women my age who look older than me.

That said, I would like to take everything out of my lifestyle that may be harmful to me. I'm a carb addict, and need to cut down on the pasta.

Just wondering, where did you find the stats about women buying cigarettes at gas stations after work? Source?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Agreed. The "health issues" regarding nonsmokers who are exposed to second hand smoke, is and always has been an egregious lie concocted to force smokers to quit.

[ru4liberty]

They may look good, but they smell bad. Phew!

[af_vet_rr]

The "health issues" regarding nonsmokers who are exposed to second hand smoke, is and always has been an egregious lie concocted to force smokers to quit.

What about those who have pre-existing conditions that are aggravated by smoking? I'm not saying smoking should be banned, I just know people who have problems that can be aggravated by smoke. that doesn't necessarily back up the antis either, it's just you can't say that nobody is being harmed.

I don't smoke myself, and don't care for the smell, but it's one of those things that isn't harming me (and wasn't in the Constitution) so I say let people smoke.

[BJungNan]

Not as harmful as the Environmental Protection Agency or those anti-secondhand smoke commercials would have one believe...

Not as bad as the neighbors burning leaf pile, the exhaust from his car, the jet he rides in or coming from the smoke stack of the power plant that provides him electricity.

Everyone puts off second hand smoke. Some just choose to complain about someone else's and overlook their own.

[ForGod'sSake]

Bumpers.

FGS

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Read post #12, my first on this thread. It admits to the concerns you addressed.

My post refers to the lie that second hand smoke causes cancer and other serious deseases in non-smokers.

[TOUGH STOUGH]

Thank you for the information. It should be past along to those who claim to have the allergy to smoke and have tried to guilt us with it for many years.

Are you a doctor?

[TOUGH STOUGH]

That should read, "my last post" and "diseases." My apologies.

[beckysueb]

All of my life, I have actually somewhat enjoyed second hand smoke.

You sound like my daughter. She smoked for years and never got the habit. She smoked about a half pack a day but she quit about a year ago. She quit because they built a new house and she didn't want to smoke it up so she would go outside to smoke and she said it was too cold in the winter. But she likes the smell of smoke, too.

[beckysueb]

they've all been wrong on second hand smoke.

I think they know that. I think it has been a case of scratching each others backs. Heres my take on the whole business. It has to do with the massive amount of money in cancer research and law suits. Lots of people are getting rich and they don't want to give up those fat payoffs. They created a great big mass of antismoking extremists to push their agenda so they aren't going to admit they have been lying. The antismoking activists aren't going to give it up either. They've gotten their way too long.

[beckysueb]

Johnny Carson regretted that he ever smoked.

Lots of nonsmokers get COPD, too. That only smoking causes COPD is another myth. Lots of things cause COPD.

[beckysueb]

My one grandmother smoked three packs of unfiltered Camels for years and lived to be 86 years old. Died of old age.

And I bet the Dr. who treated her claimed cigarettes were the cause of death.

[Larry Lucido]

it took something like 800 sodas per day for 20 years to get cancer

I drank 800 sodas a day from 1980 to 1999, then quit and beat the odds.

[beckysueb]

You people crack me up...you'll make that comment but I'd lay bets you'll sit and smell your own farts and think nothing of it!!

ROTFLMAO!!!!!! I understand farts have methane gas in them, too. Very hazardous to the health. LOL

[SheLion]

I'm astonished that someone would send a Freepmail like that.

Hey there. Just signed on and having my first cup of coffee. I also checked my FReep mail and sure enough, he wrote me back.

He is putting the blame mostly on ME and how he HATES the way I am. He has a hard on for me, and it's not one of the good kind either.

He believes that I am not proving anything, (guess he doesn't want to take time to read the links I provide, or else he must think that "I" wrote them myself. heh!)

Just got to consider the source, I guess. But this person really really hates me.

Pity.

[SheLion]

And I bet the Dr. who treated her claimed cigarettes were the cause of death.

No no. Not back then. She was never sick, and died peacefully in her sleep in her own bed. Smoking was never mentioned in the year that she died.