The smoke of tobacco combustion is divided into mainstream smoke (smoke inhaled and exhaled by smokers) and side flow smoke (smoke produced by direct tobacco combustion). Both are collectively referred to as environmental tobacco smoke, which is usually referred to as second-hand smoke. Because there is no tobacco leaf, filter tip and smoker's body filtration, the content of harmful substances in side stream smoke is higher than that in mainstream smoke. A large number of studies have shown that passive smoking can increase the risk of coronary heart disease, lung cancer, asthma, children's respiratory tract infection and otitis media, and cause serious harm to health. Therefore, no smoking in public places is the respect and protection of non-smokers.
Environmental tobacco smoke is harmful to human body. Inhalation of tobacco smoke, even for a short time, will immediately have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, thereby increasing the risk of heart attack. In other words, as long as someone smokes indoors, everyone in the space will be attacked by second-hand smoke and lead to adverse consequences regardless of distance and respiratory rate. It is worth mentioning that separating smokers from non-smokers (dividing smoking areas and non-smoking areas), taking clean air measures and installing ventilation devices can not completely prevent non-smokers from the invasion of environmental tobacco smoke. Maintaining a completely smoke-free environment is the only way to protect people from second-hand smoke.
Some people worry that smoke-free legislation will affect economic development. This is a one-sided view. The World Health Organization points out that the smoke-free policy is of great benefit to the economy, such as reducing the direct medical costs and insurance costs for the treatment of diseases caused by passive smoking; Increased productivity of smokers (including saving time spent smoking) and increased productivity of employees who are no longer affected by second-hand smoke (reducing absenteeism due to illness); Reduction of building and plant maintenance costs, etc. At the same time, as long as the law is enforced fairly, the smoke-free policy will not bring economic losses to the operation of restaurants, bars and other entertainment places. All scientifically designed studies have found that the law banning smoking in restaurants and bars has no negative impact on the sales or employment of restaurants and bars. Some studies even confirmed that the smoking ban has a positive effect on the operation of restaurants and bars.
There are 350 million smokers in China, and 740 million people suffer from passive smoking. Public places, families and workplaces are the main passive smoking places. The only effective way to prevent the harm of passive smoking is that smoking must be completely banned indoors. Many cities in China have introduced smoke-free laws in public places, which everyone should abide by and become a supporter and advocate of smoke-free environment.