Learn about why De Anza should go 100% smoke-free and the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Hi everyone, welcome to our blog series! For our first post I will be discussing how De Anza can benefit going 100% smoke free and the effects of secondhand smoke. Perhaps this could give everyone a better insight on why we are pushing for a 100% smoke free policy.

Having a policy in place is the best way to protect our students and staff from being exposed to secondhand smoke. Although the current policy only allows smoking in the parking lots, this designated area is where student and staff traffic occurs. Implementing a 100% smoke free policy is about the right to clean, smoke free air.

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You may be asking, ”is second hand smoke that dangerous? I thought it was safe!” The answer is NO amount of second hand smoke exposure is safe nor worth risking. Collective data has shown that even a brief period of exposure to secondhand smoke can be harmful.

Both cigarettes and e cigarettes have toxic carcinogens. Both are also harmful to use and may cause a varying degree of health conditions. This is concerning for those who smoke tobacco products as well as those who are unintentionally exposed to second hand smoke. Chemicals in cigarettes include ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, and carbon monoxide. These in particular have all been known to cause cancer and other chronic diseases. In E cigarettes chemicals like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde cause cancer and cadmium cause breathing problems and damage to the lungs.

Short exposure to secondhand smoke can cause coughing, irritation and more. In the latter, the effects can be chronic. This is why it's critically important to protect the public's safety by implementing a policy!

-Elizabeth.

Citations:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, November 30). Smokefree Policies Reduce Smoking. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/secondhand-smoke/protection/reduce-smoking.htm

Harms of cigarette smoking and health benefits of quitting. National Cancer Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/cessation-fact-sheet

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, November 10). Quick facts on the risks of e-cigarettes for kids, teens, and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

Dangers of second-hand smoke. NHS inform. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.nhsinform.scot/healthy-living/stopping-smoking/reasons-to-stop/dangers-of-second-hand-smoke

Association, A. L. (n.d.). What's in an e-cigarette? American Lung Association. Retrieved January 17, 2023, from https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping/whats-in-an-e-cigarette