FM Bolivia, La Paz, 31 de enero de 2012

Cigarrillos electrónicos no ayudan a dejar de fumar, asegura experto

31 de Enero de 2012, 06:10

La Paz - Bolivia.- Hace un par de semanas recibimos un comentario en nuestra página web en respuesta a una de nuestras noticias relacionadas a la prevalencia del consumo de cigarrillo en Bolivia; el comentario provenía de una empresa establecida en México que ofrecía cigarrillos electrónicos o ‘e-cigarrillos’, como una opción novedosa para dejar de fumar.

Decidimos investigar al respecto y contactamos al Dr. Denis Rada, especialista en control de tabaco, quien negó los beneficios de estos artefactos eléctricos, que no supondrían un método para detener este nocivo hábito.

A decir de Rada, desde que la gente supo de los efectos dañinos del cigarrillo, la industria tabacalera ha generado estrategias de marketing para hacer productos “más sanos”, así nacieron los cigarrillos “light”, sin embargo el daño es el mismo aunque se modifiquen algunos elementos.

“El cigarrillo electrónico es el nuevo invento de marketing de las industrias tabacaleras, es reciente, tiene unos años”, expresó.

Consiste en un mecanismo electrónico de liberación de nicotina, ya no por la combustión o por el uso de fuego, sino más bien por la atomización de partículas de nicotina de un filtro hacia el interior de los pulmones del fumador y también al ambiente. “Entonces, ya no estamos hablando de humo de segunda mano, pero sí de vapor, de emisiones del producto electrónico que han demostrado ser igualmente tóxicas”, añadió el experto.

En la información provista por la empresa que comentaba nuestra noticia estaba una página web que comercializa con estos productos por pedido, a través de correo porque al parecer no están disponibles en Bolivia. Explican detalladamente los tipos de cigarrillo y el contenido de nicotina que tiene cada uno.

“Y además, lo que ellos no dicen es qué productos ponen para modificar esa nicotina en el organismo de las personas. No hablan del amoniaco, ni de las enzimas inhibidoras de la monoaminooxidasa y otros trucos químicos que ellos tienen para que los cigarrillos sean altamente adictivos. Entonces no importa si ellos te dicen que tiene cierta cantidad de nicotina, en realidad ellos manipulan mucho más allá de solo la nicotina”, aseveró Rada.

De acuerdo al especialista se han venido realizando diversas investigaciones sobre los cigarrillos electrónicos y han demostrado que son igual que los cigarrillos y altamente peligrosos para la salud humana, del que fuma y de quien no fuma.

Sustancias cancerígenas

Según información en una nota publicada por El Mundo de España, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) advirtió en 2008 que todavía no hay ninguna evidencia que demuestre la seguridad o la eficacia de estos e-cigarrillos. De hecho, prohibió que se los publicite como una ayuda para dejar de fumar. Para ello tendrían que estar avalados científicamente y cumplir con la legislación que rige al resto de productos aprobados a tal efecto (chicles, parches, comprimidos de nicotina y medicamentos específicos).

Ya en 2009, la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos (FDA, por sus siglas en inglés) analizó varias marcas de estos e-cigarrillos y alertó de la presencia de sustancias cancerígenas (nitrosaminas, por ejemplo) y tóxicas (como el dietilenglicol, que es un anticongelante), todo ello, sin olvidar la nicotina.

De acuerdo a una nota en el diario La Tercera, de abril del año pasado, la FDA anunció que regulará los cigarrillos electrónicos como un producto de tabaco, luego de que una corte federal de EE.UU. rechazara que la entidad los normara como fármacos. Eso significa que la FDA -que no apeló al fallo- podrá aplicar la ley de tabaco a los dispositivos, pero no exigir análisis de sus compuestos y pruebas clínicas antes de su comercialización en el mercado, como sí ocurre con los fármacos.
GAIA Noticias

Tomado de:

http://www.fmbolivia.com.bo/noticia74639-cigarrillos-electronicos-no-ayudan-a-dejar-de-fumar-asegura-experto.html

Terra, 30 de enero de 2012

Anticonceptivos y cigarrillos: una combinación explosiva 
30 de enero de 2012 • 18:31 • actualizado a las 19:05

Dejar de fumar es la única manera para combatir los riesgos cardíacos que genera su combinación con las pastillas anticonceptivas. 
30 de enero de 2012Foto: Thinkstock

El consumo del tabaco conlleva una gran cantidad de problemas para la salud de todas las personas, pero las mujeres que además toman pastillas anticonceptivas deben prestar especial atención: ellas tienen un riesgo 20 veces mayor de desarrollar una enfermedad vascular coronaria que el resto.

La combinación del cigarrillo y los anticonceptivos aumentó durante las últimas tres décadas los riesgos de problemas cardíacos para las mujeres. Ellas son las más afectadas por las enfermedades del corazón en toda América, y las argentinas están entre las primeras. Fumar en estas condiciones puede generar infartos, coágulos de sangre y accidentes cerebro vasculares.

Y el riesgo es más alto en relación a una mayor edad y cantidad de cigarrillos. Las mujeres de 35 años son más propensas a recibir estas lesiones mientras que, cuando el número de cigarrillos fumados asciende a 15 o más por día, los efectos negativos pueden ser severos.

Investigaciones al respecto demostraron que cuando una mujer fuma más de 25 cigarrillos por día presenta un riesgo 30 veces mayor de tener un primer ataque cardíaco.

Aunque las mujeres que fuman una baja cantidad de cigarrillos por día son menos pasibles a sufrir estos problemas de salud, aquellas que tengan un historial familiar con altos niveles de colesterol e hipertensión correrán un peligro similar en su salud que si fumaran en grandes cantidades.

Algunos signos de problemas potenciales derivados de la combinación de los anticonceptivos y el tabaco pueden ser grandes dolencias en las piernas, abdomen o el pecho así como dolores de cabeza, similares a las migrañas, que son más fuertes y duraderas.

Aunque muchos especialistas recomiendan que las fumadoras consuman pastillas anticonceptivas que no contengan estrógenos, esto no indica que están exentas a los riesgos mencionados. Es necesario no caer en falsas expectativas, la única manera de estar fuera de peligro es a través de la renuncia al consumo del tabaco

Tomado de:

http://vidayestilo.terra.com.ar/anticonceptivos-y-cigarrillos-una-combinacion-explosiva,e3fc0477e7035310VgnVCM3000009af154d0RCRD.html

Portafolio. Bogotá Colombia, 30 de enero de 2012

Tómese un aire y deje el cigarrillo

enero 30 de 2012 - 10:39 am

La adicción a la nicotina es una enfermedad crónica y necesita tratamiento.

“Quiero, pero cuando lo dejo dos o tres días me siento morir, prefiero fumar para no sentirme enfermo”, dice Juan*, quien hoy lucha por dejar el cigarrillo.  

La tos, la fatiga y los mareos lo llevaron a consultar con un neumólogo, quien le confirmó lo que temía: “probablemente tiene una enfermedad pulmonar que lo puede llevar a la muerte”.

A los pocos minutos supo que lo suyo no era falta de carácter, de persistencia. La adicción a la nicotina es una enfermedad crónica y necesita tratamiento, como cualquier otra farmacodependencia. “El tabaquismo no es un hábito, es una patología grave, tan severa y difícil de manejar, como la adicción a la heroína.

Eso explica que las personas, aún sabiendo que perjudica la salud y quieren dejarlo, no pueden.

La adicción física se los impide”, explica Nelson Páez Espinel, neumólogo, director de la Fundación Neumológica Colombiana. “Incluso, las recaídas son similares a las que padecen los cocainómanos, pero en el caso del tabaco, si el tratamiento es llevado por buen camino, hay por lo menos tres o más probabilidades de ganar la batalla”, agregó.

Ahora se incluyen varios componentes en el manejo de los pacientes, uno psicológico, otro farmacológico y un seguimiento clínico.

La meta está en dejar el vicio, y para siempre, entre las ocho y las 12 semanas. Lo primero que hacen los especialistas es un perfil de la persona, porque mil fumadores no son iguales.

A partir de esa indagación se decide qué tipo de tratamiento necesita, al igual que la intervención psicológica y farmacológica que debe seguir. A esto debe sumarse la clase de terapia conductual y algunas recomendaciones adicionales del especialista.   

Colombia tiene varias estrategias: firmó un convenio con la OMS encaminado a tener lugares libres de humo y prohibe que se vendan cigarrillos al menudeo, explica Diana Rivera, coordinadora de políticas y movilización social del Instituto Nacional de Cancerología.

Algunos datos dan fe de la magnitud de este problema y sus consecuencias:

- En Colombia, cada año mueren 25 mil personas por enfermedades relacionadas con el tabaco.

- El 18 por ciento de la población nacional tiene enfisema pulmonar. La primera causa de este mal es el tabaco.

- Los accidentes coronarios y cerebrovasculares se multiplican por cinco en las personas que fuman. El infarto, a causa del tabaco es uno de los males que más altas tasas de incapacidad produce.

- Las afecciones relacionadas con el cigarrillo muestran sus primeros síntomas 10 o 20 años después de la primera bocanada de humo.

*Nombre cambiado por solicitud del entrevistado.  

Tomado de:

http://www.portafolio.co/portafolio-plus/tomese-un-aire-y-deje-el-cigarrillo

ABC.es, Madrid España, 31 de enero de 2012

Tabaco y sobrepeso, mala combinación para el corazón del bebé

S. Gutiérrez

Última revisión martes 31 de enero de 2012

La combinación del sobrepeso y consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo puede ser muyperjudicial para el corazón del bebé. Así lo asegura una investigación de la Universidad de Groningen (Holanda) que se publica en Heart.

Las anomalías congénitas del corazón son algunos de los defectos más comunes que se encuentran en el nacimiento. Sin embargo, sólo en el 15% de los casos se identifica una causa probable.

Los autores basan sus conclusiones en un análisis de casi 800 bebés y fetos nacidos con defectos cardíacos congénitos entre 1997 y 2008. Los bebés fueron comparados con 322 niños y fetos que nacieron con anomalías cromosómicas, pero sin ningún tipo de defectos cardíacos.

Los resultados sugerían un efecto perjudicial de la combinación de sobrepeso materno y el consumo de tabaco durante la gestación, después de tomar en cuenta factores influyentes como el consumo materno de alcohol o factores educativos.

Juntos, pero no por separado

Las madres que fumaban y tenían sobrepeso, con un IMC de 25 o más, tenían una probabilidad de más de 2,5 veces de tener un hijo con un defecto cardíaco congénito que las mujeres que o fumaban o tenían sobrepeso, pero no los dos factores juntos.


Por ejemplo, explica los investigadores, el riesgo de sufrir anomalías que afectan al flujo de sangre desde los ventrículos del corazón a la arteria pulmonar o la aorta estaba triplicado en los bebés nacidos de madres con sobrepeso que fumaron durante el embarazo.

Mientras que todavía no se sabe exactamente el mecanismo de acción, los expertos apuntan a alteraciones en el colesterol plasmático, que se asociaron independientemente con la obesidad y el tabaquismo, y que se traduce en menores niveles de colesterol «bueno» y mayores de colesterol «malo».

«Estos resultados indican que el tabaquismo materno y el sobrepeso deben contemplarse como una posible causa de defectos congénitos del corazón», escriben los autores. Los datos se suman a las evidencias existentes sobre los vínculos entre el tabaquismo y el sobrepeso durante el embarazo con un mayor riesgo de muerte fetal por aborto involuntario, retraso del crecimiento y partos prematuros.


Tomado de:


http://www.abc.es/salud/noticias/tabaco-sobrepeso-mala-combinacion-para-11169.html

The Malasyan Insider. 31 de emerp de 2'12

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Fighting Big Tobacco in Malaysia — Fifa Rahman

January 31, 2012

JAN 31 — In a country where 46 per cent of males smoke, and where the government spends RM20 billion a year treating tobacco-related illnesses, it is imperative that we as a society demand greater health protection, and stronger tobacco laws.

However, in the enactment of tobacco laws to protect public health, and also in the execution of anti-tobacco/pro-health advocacy, there has been a long history of tobacco industry interference which undermines and very often, blocks efforts from materialising altogether. As someone who has had exposure to tobacco policies and regulation, I am fearful that tobacco industry interference is the most significant obstacle that policymakers and anti-tobacco advocates face today.

Malaysia is a signatory of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (hereinafter the WHO–FCTC) which states under Article 5.3 that parties to the Convention should ensure that policy is protected from vested interests of the tobacco industry and tobacco industry interference.

The reason for this is that the tobacco industry has for decades tried to circumvent policy that protects public health. In the 1930s, when reports first started coming out about the negative health effects of cigarettes, the tobacco industry began decade-long campaigns to refute the authenticity of these reports, and portray cigarettes as safe products, including the famous: “Most Doctors Smoke Camels” advertisement.

Unfortunately, tobacco industry interference in anti-tobacco campaigns continues to this very day, and in fact is increasingly influential. Here are several examples: In 1988 in California, when Californians voted to increase tobacco tax, Big Tobacco increased political contributions to the California state government, and the governor at that time took steps to block anti-tobacco ads paid for by that tax.

Oswal et al in their 2010 article in the Indian Journal of Cancer stated that in India, the tobacco industry lobbied heavily to influence the public to believe that graphic pictorial warnings were religiously offensive and that tobacco farmers would be adversely affected. It is important to note that the latter argument is frequently used worldwide, and tries to draw attention away from the fact that tobacco farmers themselves suffer from tobacco poisoning due to constant contact with tobacco leaves, and that tobacco farming requires heavy use of pesticides, which has adverse environmental effects. It also conveniently forgets to mention Article 17 of the WHO-FCTC which states that parties should provide support to farmers for economically-viable alternatives.

Shockingly, Malaysia’s 2012 Budget did not call for increase in tobacco taxes at all — a measure which has been proven to have the biggest short-term impact on tobacco use. This proof is contained in the 1999 World Bank Report “Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control”, which states that a 10 per cent increase in price of a pack of cigarettes would decrease demand for cigarettes by eight per cent in middle- and low-income countries.

This may have been influenced by the fact that smuggled cigarettes are often reported as being at 40 per cent. What the public does not know is that these figures are from a heavily-biased tobacco industry study done by collecting litter around football stadiums and Felda settlements. Preliminary studies by university academics show the more realistic figure to be around 20 per cent.

In addition to the use of biased studies, over the years, the tobacco industry has also been very smart in recruiting influential persons or persons with previous government links to fill positions in their companies. A quick Google search of the Board of Directors of any large tobacco company will reveal names of highly influential persons, recognizable names that make tobacco lobbying just that much stronger.

The WHO provides measures to effectively deal with the tobacco epidemic; these are called the MPOWER measures — all of which have in the past and currently face tobacco industry interference. These effective measures are: Monitoring of tobacco use; Protection from tobacco smoke; Offer help to cease smoking (cessation techniques); Warning of harms of tobacco use; Enforce advertising bans; and Raise taxes.

Under the “P” measure i.e. protection from tobacco smoke, governments the world over have enacted laws for smoke-free areas — whether entire geographical areas, or specified establishments such as bars. In 2004, Ireland banned smoking in bars, and the tobacco industry stated that this would affect businesses. Eight years on, the Irish still frequent the pubs, negating the words of Big Tobacco.

In the campaign for smoke-free areas, the tobacco industry employs front-groups such as restaurant owners associations and tourism groups, stating that restaurant business would reduce and tourism would reduce. I could be wrong, but logically persons frequent restaurants for food and touristic areas for scenery and recreational activities — not to smoke. Furthermore, evidence has proven that in New York, which banned smoking in restaurants, business was not adversely affected. In fact, the New York Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Union President supported smoking bans in restaurants for public health reasons.

The above anecdotes and worldwide experiences show that tobacco industry influence is rife and extremely powerful. As someone who has had tobacco control experience, I can verify as to interference that is alive and well, and that if we don’t stand up, we won’t just have 45 per cent of male smokers. That figure will increase unless something is done. Political will and the voice of the people will be imperative in defeating tobacco industry lobbying, and ensuring that Malaysians’ health is better protected.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

Tomado de:

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/fighting-big-tobacco-in-malaysia-fifa-rahman

EnidNews.com, Pklahoma EU, 30 de enero de 2012

January 30, 2012

Health risks, public awareness focus of this week’s Tobacco-Free Oklahoma campaign

By James Neal, Staff WriterEnid News and Eagle

ENID — This year’s Tobacco-Free Oklahoma Week, which officially began Monday, is broadening its focus to include not only public awareness campaigns on the health effects of smoking, but also on the financial costs to smokers and non-smokers.

Gov. Mary Fallin issued the proclamation last Friday, designating Jan. 29-Feb. 4 as Tobacco-Free Oklahoma Week, “a week highlighting the price all Oklahomans pay for tobacco use, whether they smoke or not.”

The week-long state tobacco holiday focuses on the health risks of smoking, but this year also takes aim at the financial burden borne by the state’s non-smokers due to the secondary costs of tobacco use.

“We’ve worked on health issues for many years, but tobacco use is costing all of us money, too,” said Garfield County Tobacco Free Coalition program coordinator Annie Evans. “We’re all paying more for health insurance, we’re paying more for Medicaid, we’re paying more for sick days and sick leave, because smokers are sick more and out of work more.”

Evans said the financial costs of tobacco use are disproportionately borne by low-income segments of the population that can least afford the added expense.

Of the individuals who called the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline in a recent survey, nearly 57 percent made less than $20,000 per year and 61 percent had a high school education or less.

“Big tobacco targets these segments of our society because tobacco is a cheap high; they can feel better for a short time for a relatively small amount, but once they get hooked, that financial amount grows rapidly and eventually they’re spending money on tobacco instead of food,” Evans said.

Oklahoma’s rate of tobacco use and its tobacco-related expenses remain high by national standards.

Oklahoma’s national health ranking remains at 46th out of the 50 states, largely due to the state’s comparatively high rate of adult smokers — nearly 26 percent. Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in Oklahoma, claiming more than 6,000 Oklahomans’ lives each year according to figures provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET).

Aside from the unnecessary toll in human health and lives, officials point out tobacco use also is putting a strain on the state’s economy and on individuals’ bank accounts, even if they don’t smoke.

According to the TSET figures, Oklahoma businesses lose an average of $4,400 each year for every employee who smokes.

Tobacco-related business costs are driven by increased sick days and disability, higher medical and insurance costs, and shorter, less productive work lives among smoking employees, according to the TSET press release.

Each Oklahoma taxpayer also bears part of the cost of shoring up the state’s health care system. The TSET figures indicate Oklahoma’s annual health care costs directly caused by smoking are $1.16 billion, including $218 million in Medicaid costs.

The report goes on to state every Oklahoma household “on average pays $548 each year in state and federal taxes related to smoking costs, whether anyone in the household smokes or not.”

“Reducing tobacco use and making a commitment to a healthier workforce must be a top priority for all Oklahomans if we are serious about continued economic growth for the state,” said TSET Executive Director Tracey Strader. “Existing and prospective employers closely examine health care costs when considering expansion and relocation. A healthy work force can only sharpen our competitive edge and further economic development for the state.”

Strader said Oklahoma businesses can take steps to improve their employees’ health, and thus their bottom line. Some of those steps may include making business properties tobacco-free, offering health insurance that covers tobacco cessation and participating in the Oklahoma Certified Healthy Business program.

“We know, and other states have demonstrated, that tobacco use can be reduced through effective policies and programs at local and state levels,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. Terry Cline. “However, until the laws put in place in Oklahoma in the 1980s and ’90s due to tobacco industry influence are repealed, and local rights are returned to communities, Oklahoma’s cities and towns will continue to be prohibited from passing local tobacco prevention ordinances that protect their citizens and help create a healthier work force.

“Not only is tobacco use taking a personal toll in increasing preventable disease and early death among Oklahomans, its associated costs are killing the economic growth of our communities and our state. From individuals, to communities, to our businesses, each of us has a role to play to prevent and reduce the use of tobacco. Ultimately, this will improve the lives and livelihoods of all Oklahomans.”

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers free tobacco-cessation information and support at (800) QUIT-NOW.

In honor of Tobacco-Free Oklahoma Week, organizers are offering Oklahomans a chance to share their stories about how tobacco has impacted their lives for the chance to win four tickets to the Oklahoma City Thunder home game on Feb. 3 versus Memphis. Go to Thunder.nba.com to share your story by 3 p.m. Wednesday for a chance to win the tickets.

Tomado de:

7 WTRF.com Ohio, 30 de enero de 2012

Two Colleges In Ohio County Consider Going Tobacco-Free

Posted: Jan 30, 2012 5:27 PMUpdated: Jan 30, 2012 5:27 PM

By D.K. Wright, Digital Journalist - email

If you're a college student and you smoke or use chewing tobacco, your life may soon change dramatically.

The Ohio County Health Department has approached three colleges in the county about going completely tobacco-free.

Officials say two of them--West Liberty University and West Virginia Northern Community College--have shown interest in the concept.

WVNCC students know the buildings are smoke-free, so they go outside to smoke.

But if the whole campus goes tobacco free, the sidewalk outside the school will be off limits to smokers.

For nursing major Elizabeth Deck, will that be enough to prompt her to quit smoking?

"No!" she answers quickly. "No, I would just walk across the street, or go wherever they direct us to go, in order to smoke."

Because the campus is in the middle of the city, these students will be able to step across the street.

Not so at West Liberty University, where the campus is large and if it goes completely tobacco-free, smokers will have to walk a mile for a Camel.

"A campus that is in a more metropolitan area downtown would have less challenges than a campus that is in a rural setting or in an area that is all enclosed," says Howard Gamble, Ohio County Health Department administrator.

Gamble says this is not an effort to force smokers to quit.

He says it is an effort to force them to quit victimizing non-smokers with second hand smoke.

WVNCC's dean of community relations agrees.

Bob DeFrancis says if some people do quit, that's a good thing.

"What we've been talking about, and what I think would be the best thing to do would be to have some kind of partnership with either the health department or another entity to offer smoking cessation classes for people. This is an educational institution. You can be educated to quit smoking and that's something I think we ought to seriously consider."

Student Leslie Haubeil is a smoker, but she says the campus probably should go tobacco-free.

"For the people who don't smoke, I think it would be better," Haubeil admits. "Second hand smoke is the worst smoke, even if you're outside because there are other people who stand out there who don't smoke."

"Tobacco-free" means that not just cigarettes but chewing tobacco would be banned.

For now, they emphasize it's just in the talking stages.

But Howard Gamble says officials from WVNCC and WLU have indicated their desire to make their campuses tobacco-free.

Tomado de:

http://www.wtrf.com/story/16634646/two-colleges-in-ohio-county-consider-going-tobacco-free

Wisconsin Radio Network, 30 de enero de 2012

You are here: Home / Health & Medicine / Not your grandparents’ tobacco

Not your grandparents’ tobacco

January 30, 2012 By Jackie Johnson

The American Lung Association says their efforts to reduce or prevent tobacco use is a constant battle. Dona Wininsky with the group’s Wisconsin chapter says for every success achieved, the tobacco industry is out there creating new products, and developing new ways to market those products. “In the adult population now we’re seeing this proliferation around the state of roll-your-own cigarette shops. The reason that people are attracted to those is that the price is lower.”

Wininsky says the roll-your-own shops use cigar tobacco, which is taxed lower than cigarette tobacco. The shops sell loose tobacco and cigarette papers to customers who assemble their own smokes on the spot. Wininsky says the end product cost less than already-made expensive name brands, so any accomplishments gained from the higher price of cigarettes as a result of a hefty tax, is undone by the roll-your-own operations.

Also, the percentage of youth smokers is down from previous years, but Wininsky says marketing efforts are hindering that success. “It was over 30 percent not too terribly long ago; it’s about 20 percent now. There’s all kinds of new flavored, candy-flavored, fruit-flavored products and kids who at one time might have been cigarette smokers are now smoking grape-flavored cigarillos, for example.”

Wininsky says the laws need to catch up with the new products available to the public.

A recent report by the American Lung Association said Wisconsin falls short when it comes to protecting residents from the harms of tobacco, giving the state two Fs, a B, and an A. (Tobacco Prevention and Control Funding, F; Smoke free Air, A; Cigarette Tax Rate, B; and Coverage of Cessation Treatments and Services, F.)

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:44

Tomado de:

http://www.wrn.com/2012/01/not-your-grandparents-tobacco/

Ottawa Citizen Canadá, 31 de enero de 2012

Public health advises more smoke-free areas

 

Parks, patios, beaches, market vendors would fall under proposed regulations

 

By Neco Cockburn, Ottawa Citizen January 31, 2012 3:10 AM

New regulations proposed by Ottawa public health officials would create smoke-free spaces at more than 1,000 city parks, more than 200 patios, four beaches and areas outside about 300 city facilities, such as arenas and City Hall.
Even vendor stands at the Parkdale and ByWard markets would fall under new smoke-free bylaws that are to go before the city's board of health on Feb. 6, with the goal of having any new rules in place by the time warm weather arrives and patios and markets open.
Events on municipal properties would also be smoke-free under the proposed changes.
"We're doing this because second-hand smoke is a health hazard," said Dr. Isra Levy, the city's medical officer of health.
"We know that it can be as toxic outdoors as indoors," Levy told reporters and councillors on Monday, adding that there is strong correlation between smoke-free regulations and reduced smoking rates and exposure to second-hand smoke, as well as increased attempts to quit smoking.
If the changes go ahead, officials would begin cracking down on offenders starting July 2, after a warning phase beginning in April. Someone who violates the rules would risk a $305 fine, said Linda Anderson, the city's chief of bylaw and regulatory services, adding the department expects a high level of voluntary compliance.
The proposed bylaws are part of a three-year renewed smoke-free strategy that would also increase services and programming to help people stop smoking, and provide public education campaigns and a community engagement plan.
The initiatives will be paid for through a reallocation of provincial "tobacco funding," according to officials. Ottawa Public Health receives about $1.8 million a year for tobacco-related programming and services, most of which comes from the province.
Mike Ziola, chairman of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association's Ottawa chapter, said the recommendations are an "evolution" of the city's smoke-free bylaws that were approved 11 years ago, and were not surprising.
The industry would prefer to see fines start in September, rather than July, in order to allow owners to become accustomed to the new rules, he said, and there are some concerns, especially in the By-Ward Market, about "where we're going to put people to go and smoke."
There are plans for tobacco anti-litter campaigns, and existing butt receptacles are to be moved to areas that are convenient to smokers, according to a health unit report.
Ottawa has two bylaws that prohibit smoking in indoor public places and enclosed workplaces. There was heated debate in 2001 when council banned smoking in bars, restaurants and gaming rooms.
On Monday, Somerset Councillor Diane Holmes, chair of the board of health, said that officials have come up with a "complete package" that would see Ottawa "be a healthier place."
"Really, what we're doing is catching up with our population. The people in Ottawa want to see less smoking," she said.
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson called the proposed changes "a balanced and sensible approach to protecting the public's health," and said he is very supportive.

"We know that secondhand smoke kills people, and if we're able to minimize the public's exposure to secondhand smoke, whether it's in a playground or a patio, then that's the right thing to do," he said.
During the review, health officials held consultations with residents, businesses and other interested parties about smoke-free areas.
Levy said a lot of input was received from smokers, and officials found that "smokers, in general, support the direction that we're moving in," although in lower numbers than non-smokers.
Still, more than 50 per cent of smokers supported expanding smoke-free spaces, Levy said, anticipating that it reflects an understanding and respect for non-smokers, and recognition that the strategy would help people who want to stop smoking.
Officials considered other areas, such as hospitals, colleges and universities, constructions sites and hotels, but found that, depending on the site, there were concerns around public readiness for a ban, legal impediments, and the potential costs of enforcement and implementation, Levy said.
The city says about 15 per cent of Ottawa residents smoke, and the smoking rate "has levelled off since 2005 after steep declines in earlier years."
An anti-smoking group leader said the proposed bylaws are the "basis of a really important change."
"Basically, they'll have dealt with the majority of the remaining problem for public exposure," said Cynthia Callard, executive director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.
Public-health staff also looked into the regulation of shisha-pipe (hookah or waterpipe) establishments, where some of what's being called a herbal product has been found to contain tobacco.
Staff recommended having Holmes, as the chair of the board of health, write letters calling for other levels of government to bring in tougher rules and legislation pertaining to tobacco water-pipe products and other substances that are smoked.
Anderson said bylaw staff will continue to monitor shisha-pipe establishments. (In 2011, inspection blitzes of 20 known water-pipe establishments in Ottawa resulted in provincial offence notices being issued to all but one of them, for offences such as selling tobacco without a required licence.)
Following consideration by the board of health, the recommended bylaws are to go to council's community and protective services committee on Feb. 15, and council on Feb. 22.
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