1006_Ind1_S1

Name: Meghan Nichol

Instructions: Now that your group has decided on an issue, you must demonstrate that there is a problem. You will turn in this research sheet completed with two articles attached that you showed that there is a problem

I. There is a problem in society today. That problem is:

Public smoking being allowed everywhere. Many states already have some sort of smoking ban in place, this should become nationwide. Not only would banning smoking in public places help people quit, but it would cut back on the nation's pollution. Also, even for non-smokers the smoking bans will be beneficial; they no longer have to worry about second hand smoke and it also allows restaurants and bars to have more space for the customers without the smoking areas. Illinois is one of the many states that has completely banned smoking in all public buildings and there haven't been any real big uproars protesting this. In other words, all the smokers have been able to adapt to this law and it has been beneficial for both parties.

II. Facts that demonstrate that there is a problem are: (Two articles and bibliography must be attached)

"Secondhand smoke, like firsthand smoke, causes lung cancer" (//Secondhand Smoke// 1). Both second and firsthand smoke have been linked to different ailments in kids and adults such as asthma, bronchitis, cancer, and even heart disease. Smoke has been linked to cancer because it is now a known human carcinogen according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1993 (//Secondhand Smoke// 1). Businesses and companies are learning of the major dangers of smoking for both the smoker and the people around said smoker. "Businesses and organizations ranging from Taco Bell to the U.S. military have already banned or restricted smoking in their facilities" (//Secondhand Smoke// 1). Because of the changes being made in workplaces around the country, more and more people have made smoking more of a private matter than a public activity; this has also aided in convincing smokers to cut back or in some cases even quit. Many studies have been done to support the statements that smoking is dangerous for everyone. One of these studies included looking at the wives of smokers compared to the wives of nonsmokers. A conclusion from this and many other similar studies was that the more one is exposed to secondhand smoke, the larger the risk there is to contract cancer. Some of the statistics of this conclusion are: 30% increased risk of lung cancer if spouse smokes, 225% increase if around family and friends that smoke (//Secondhand Smoke// 1); however, these rates are smaller than the 1100-2400% increased risk for lung cancer for the active smokers rather than passive smokers. Although when people think of diseases linked with smoking they only think of cancer, respiratory and heart problems have come up as well for those who suffer from secondhand smoke exposure. For example, infants that are born into a family of smokers--more specifically mothers who smoke--usually weigh less and have weaker lungs (//Secondhand Smoke// 3). It is even likely that these infants will die sooner than any other ailed infant. As for heart disease, secondhand smoke is a large cause for blood clots and damage to the arteries leading to the development of heart disease (//Secondhand Smoke// 4). In the end, the more one is exposed to secondhand smoke the higher the risk they have at contracting a serious disease. Moreover, those who are active smokers need to become more considerate of others and not smoke around others so they don't have to worry about having higher risks of cancer and heart disease.

The Surgeon General sent out a report in 2006 stating the different statistics of risk factors of smoking and secondhand smoke. "'...there's no safe level to secondhand smoke,...the only way to protect nonsmokers is bans" (//Butts Out// 4). These words were spoken by Thomas Carr, the manager of national policy for the American Lung Association. His opinions were based after reading the Surgeon General's report which stated, "Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home of work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 percent to 30 percent, and lung cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent" (//Butts Out// 4). It is seen that from many studies done in the past or even recently that secondhand smoke has been found dangerous for everyone, but many feel it is specifically dangerous for young children. In fact, Arkansas Rep. Bob Mathis is so strongly for protecting children from secondhand smoke that he has even proposed a ban against smoking in a vehicle with young children inside (//Butts Out// 3). This ban is seen as a way to protect children health because the smoking going on inside the vehicle is seen as a form of child abuse. Mathis found this proposal very important because adults are able to make their own decision about smoking and being unhealthy, but kids are not able to decide whether or not they are subjected to secondhand smoke. Other bans that government officials want to start putting in place include no smoking in college dormitories or on children playgrounds. The support for these bans vary however. It helps that already half the states in the U.S. have some sort of smoking prohibitions in place. These prohibitions include: banning smoking completely in all workplaces, restaurants, and bars or just a ban in some of these places (//Butts Out// 1). "'When people go to work they expect to breathe smoke free air. People are understanding the dangers of secondhand smoke,'" stated senior program manager for Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights, Annie Tegan (//Butts Out// 2). Each state has their own versions of bans, slowly our nation is becoming more smoke free.

Dusenberry, Mary Branham. "Butts Out." //State News Vol. 50, No. 7//. Aug. 2007: 16-19. //SIRS Researcher.// Web. 18 Feb 2011. //Unknown.// "Secondhand Smoke: Is It a Hazard?." //Consumer Reports//. Jan. 1995: 27-33. //SIRS Researcher.// Web. 18 Feb 2011.