Introduction
‘Smoking is injurious to health’ declares the statuary warning on the cover of a cigarette packet. Then, both active and passive smoking is harmful for health. Again, survey reports declare that passive smoking is more harmful than active smoking. So, it is better and high time that smoking should be banned, simultaneously should be strictly enforced. The cover of a cigarette packet also declares the statuary warning: ‘Taking tobacco causes cancer’ with cancer affected picture of lungs. All these attempts have failed. Still, the number of smokers is increasing. What are the healthy and probable reasons for the proneness of smoking from young to old irrespective of ladies and gentlemen? However, active smoking affects the health of the passive smokers i.e. people around the smokers. It is the major concern for the world. As it is more injurious since it cannot be controlled. Because of smoking, the entire atmosphere of a certain area becomes contaminated and therefrom the health hazards of non-smokers start getting affected.
Sidestream Smoke: The Dangerous One
The smoke comes from the burning end of the cigarette is known as the sidestream smoke which is inhaled by the passive smokers. The combustion at the burning end of the cigarette at lower temperature releases the half burnt chemicals, much more carcinogenic in nature, into the atmosphere. Moreover, the smoke containing tiny sized invisible particles easily percolate deeper into the lungs. Hence, passive smoking is much more injurious, and seriously affects the lungs than active smoking.
Impact of Passive Smoking
‘Passive smoking causes lasting damage to children’s arteries, prematurely ageing their blood vessels by more than three years’, declared the research report prepared by a constellation of medical experts and was broadcasted by the BBC news on 4 March 2014. This is the startling fact and cannot be overlooked and ignored. By endangering our children’s health, we are leading the whole mankind to great risk
National Measures
The failure of the State and Central Governments are leading the nation to danger. So, the governments should formulate more strict rules on banning smoking along with punishments in relation to criminal acts and successfully implementing them. Simultaneously, the programmes and campaigns on mass awareness should be frequented with short intervals.
Global Measures
Exposure to passive smoking is very injurious to health is the widespread scientific consensus. Moreover, World Health Organisation and other organisations across the world are becoming increasing vigilant concerning the matter. The Governments of 168 nations have recently signed and 174 nations have ratified ‘The World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’.
Conclusion
The initiatives are positive and widely praiseworthy. Growing awareness along with such initiatives at national and international levels are sure indications for the eradication of this dormant violence. The mass should be made aware of precautions from their end, for instance, standing far away from smokers in public places, or forbidding the smokers to smoke in public places, etc. These simple and small steps can certainly provide safety. Right to a healthy environment is the fundamental right and smokers should not be allowed to avail it.