Dear Editor:

With Indiana being very active in the passing of local workplace smoking ordinances, I think that it is important to educate the citizens of Rush County on some facts related to secondhand smoke. Whether you agree or disagree with local governments enacting smoking regulations, the following points are facts and should be considered.

1. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has designated secondhand smoke as a Class A Carcinogen, meaning it has been proven to cause cancer in humans. Secondhand smoke has been placed in the same category as asbestos and benzene.

2. Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, of which 50 have been proven to cause cancer, birth defects, and/or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

3. Secondhand smoke kills. We know that more than 53,000 non-smoking Americans die each year from secondhand smoke exposure and other smoking related accidents, such as fires.

4. On average, if you spend two hours in a non-smoking section of a restaurant, it is the equivalent to smoking two cigarettes.

These are just four quick facts that help to explain the impact of secondhand smoke exposure. There is much more to learn.

Sincerely,

Rainy Smith

Rushville