Letter of Complaint
Brown Black
2821 Turtle Creek Boulevard
Dallas, TX 75219
22 July 2011
The Honorable Kay Hutchinson
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Hutchinson
My name is Black and I am writing this letter to you concerning the issue of public smoking within inappropriate areas like work settings, hotels, airports, bars, eateries, schools and film theaters. Being a student, I interact with smokers nearly on a daily basis in the bus terminals as I wait for a bus to school and as I breathe in the smoke, this in effect makes me a passive smoker. A passive smoker is any person who inhales secondary smoke because he is near a cigarette smoker. Additionally, during the weekends and holiday sessions, it is also applicable in public areas like hotels, airport, and eatery joints. As you well know, there are various health hazards which non-smokers are exposed to some of which have fatal consequences and therefore I decided to write a petition to you with regard to the same issue. This is based on the various results I gathered from a research I conducted on passive smoking as shared below in a bid to brief you of the severity of the problem (Great Britain: Parliament House of Commons Health Committee 48).
A large number of passive smokers die on a daily basis because of inhaling cigarette fumes as noted in various health journals as noted in outdoor measures. Here in California, researchers projected that at least between 147, 000 and 251, 000 passive smokers are at the risk of dying on a yearly basis unless some form of intervention is adopted (American Cancer Society, 2003). Using the same ratios within the European Union area would result to about 55,000 to 94,000, whereas China deaths would amount to between 185,000 to 317,000 individuals. Within the American nations, the array is identified as between 122, 000 to 209,000 (American Cancer Society, 2003). To understand the extent of the problem, the statistics indicate that for every citizen, at least one family member (nuclear or extended relatives), friend or residential associate dies daily because of passive smoking.
In addition to death, passive smoking leads to health issues that are very expensive to treat or maintain. These ailments include lung cancer, asthma, cardiac diseases and respiratory complications amongst others. Note that the same ailments are also noted within the smokers and the only difference is the duration required for the ailment manifestation. At least 31,000,000 dollars are required within a year’s duration to handle such diseases in children, while an additional 25,000,000 dollars are needed for the adults (Lewis 6). Pregnant passive smokers incur at least 20,000,000 dollars when dealing with immature births, prenatal casualties and reduced birth weights within the American nations. Cigarette smoke contains at least 4,000 poisonous substances that are responsible for the health issues and all these are passed to passive smokers within the environment with every inhalation. The more a passive smoker inhales, the higher the poison levels in the body. This makes disease manifestations higher.
Although it maybe argued that the identified diseases might never be manifested due to the exposure levels, it is good to note that a single contact with cigarette smoke bears deadly outcomes. The only difference with prolonged exposure is the magnitude of the health problems as well as the duration required for severe consequences with regard to the same. The first hazard in short duration exposure is noted as cell destruction within the circulatory path, blood alteration from fluid to gel, thickening of blood vessels, and high likelihoods for cardiac arrest and stroke by 25%. For individuals living with asthma, a single inhalation is strong enough to cause an asthmatic attack whereas for HIV+ passive smokers, the smoke accelerates the full-blown condition by up to four times and therefore leading to quickened deaths (World Health Organization, 2011). With the state failure to enforce a ban on smoking within public places, we contribute to a notable risk level directed to 88,000,000 Americans.
I therefore implore you to address this issue by first, ensuring that non-smoking signs are situated in areas where smoking is prohibited, especially in all social locations. The sign should be easily understood across all ages, gender and ethnicities to ensure higher prevention. Words may be included in varying languages to aid with the understanding process. Secondly, smoking bans should be introduced to all public locations to overcome the problem (Myers, 2011). Although this proposal may seem harsh to smokers since it is an addictive habit, therapists have recommended the bans as a helpful element by noting that discouraging the same in public places has led to reduced smoking by the addicts as well as prevented an influx of new smokers. Areas within the American nations that have adopted the ban policy have noted less heart and respiratory problems from the year 2004 onwards (Myers, 2011).
Thirdly, an introduction of sessions whereby the public is educated on the health and financial problem arising from passive smoking will be beneficial to the citizens of Carlifornia (World Health Organization, 2011). This is because it will act as a convincing element to the public in enforcing the ban. Public buildings that still maintain smoking locations should also be forced to adapt the bans.
Thank you for your time and help towards this issue. I kindly request for a reply detailing your views on the issues of the health risks faced by passive smokers as well as the measures which should be implemented to mitigate this. I would be more than pleased if the reply came within the next two weeks, if possible. Thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Brown Black
Works Cited
American Cancer Society. Building Public Awareness About Passive Smoking Hazards. American Cancer Society/International Union against Cancer. 2003. Web. 22 July 2011. <http://www.paho.org/english/ad/sde/ra/Guide1a_SecondhandSmoke.pdf >.
Great Britain: Parliament House of Commons Health Committee. Smoking in Public Places: First Report of Session 2005-06, Volume 3. Norwich: The Stationery Office, 2005. Print.
Lewis, Keir. Smoking Cessation. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.
Myers, Wyatt. How Smoking Bans Saves Lives. Everyday Health, Inc. 14 June 2011. Web. 22 July 2011. <http://www.everydayhealth.com/stop-smoking/how-smoking-bans-save-lives.aspx>.
World Health Organization. Key Areas and Groups: Tobacco Free Public Places. 2011. Web. 22 July 2011. < http://www.emro.who.int/tfi/Giant-TobaccoFreePublic.htm>.
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