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
If it's a man, he's the biggest wuss I've ever seen!
Don't fret about the anal-retentive (I hate that trendy expression, but it really does apply sometimes) haters, Miss Lion, a lot of us around here love you.
I totally agree. He must be a SHE. I don't mean to be mean, but you all know that these anal anti's hit me on the wrong day, and I CAN get nasty. Their total lack of knowledge on the smoking issue always amazes me.
Then when they come into a CONSERVATIVE Smoker's Thread and start to bash and trash us and tell us we stink and that we are vile creatures, I won't put up with it.
Then, like T(hreasa) Smith, they think that they can say whatever they want and we should be the ones to cower and beg for their forgiveness. I think not!
Then, they try to turn their vile remarks back around to US. Well, they are either practicing to be Politicians or else they have such a pitiful real life that this is the only way they can direct their anger at the world. On CONSERVATIVE Smoking Threads.
"To escape from obnoxious old queens like you. It just won't work fast enough!"
Thank you SO much. I truly appreciate that.
But in here, with me........there is no in between. You either love me or hate me. I have more wonderful friends in here then I do enemies.
That, to me, is all that matters.
Thank you for that information.
It brought to mind an article I read in Discovery magazine a few years ago about a study done on a tribe in South America who were completely allergy free, even though they lived constantly around things that causes allergies in so many Americans.
The conclusion was that this tribe still had the same parasites in their bodies that our ancient ancestors had, and the histamines were attacking those parasites instead of attacking the body itself. Everything was in balance.
We have killed most of the ancient parasites with our modern medicines, and the histamines have nothing else to attack.
This was interesting to me at the time because my daughter has MS, and that disease is simply the body's antibodies attacking the myelin sheath surrounding the nerves. I made the connection between the lack of anything else to attack.
It doesn't take a big stretch to imagine that smoker's give the body's histamines something else to attack, like the irritants in the nose.
I don't know if it fits, but it's interesting.
Most smokers I know who quit developed severe allergies to many things.
OMG metesky. You crack me up. It's a wonder many of us aren't BANNED in here. hehe!
Good!
Weeeeellll, okay. That's a real hard decision, but since you put it that way, I love you. LOL!
Fergit about the creep! If she hasn't got the cajones to keep it on the thread, she doesn't deserve our time.
Ah! Love is good. I printed that out. hehe
Shhhhh!
Gotta read this bump. Sitting in our 'smoking lounge' at this moment. (Well heated 4 1/2 car garage in the winter)
Check out my new tag line for people like TSmith.
That's a really interesting theory, TC. I bet that there is some merit to it. Of course, I am not a doctor, or a scientist, so take that for what it's worth, lol! :)
Hear, hear!!
So far, I've sold twelve machines.
Roll your own seems to be catching on.
Mark Twain
Looks great! Here's two more pictures for the likes of her:
And my cat also has a gesture for her/him:
Well, I sure love you all too. And you KNOW who all are! That's for sure!
Here's a hug for you too, Madame Dufarge!!!! I LOVE giving hugs!!!!
Where the heck you BEEN? I was getting ready to FReep mail you. You disappeared for a few days!
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