Support a ban on smoking in public places in Wales
The dangers of passive smoking explained
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Do you support a complete ban on smoking in public places in Wales?
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Ban smoking in public places in Wales
BMA Cymru Wales is calling on the UK government to give the National Assembly for Wales to ban smoking in public places according to its wishes.
BMA Cymru Wales is preparing al all-Wales petition to go to 10 Downing Street on St David's Day 2005.
We urge you to support clean air in Wales.
Write to: BMA Cymru Wales 5th floor, 2 Caspian Point, Caspian Way, Cardiff Bay, CARDIFF CF10 4DQ
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Ysmygu mewn mannau cyhoeddus
Y peth cynta i ddweud yw bod mwg tybaco yn beryglus. Fedrwch chi ddim dianc rhag hynny.
Ma' 'na domen o ystadegau a thystiolaeth i gael erbyn hyn, ac ma' pedwar mil o feddygon y BMA ar draws Prydain - yn sylweddoli fod mwg tybaco yn lladd, ac y gallai gwahardd ysmygwyr rhag gwenwyno pobol eraill - arbed bywydau miliynnau o bobl.
Fedrwch chi ddim dadle yn erbyn hynna.
UN O BROBLEMAU MWYA IECHYD Y CYHOEDD
· Erbyn y flwyddyn 2020 : 10 miliwn o bobl yn marw yn ddiangen bob dydd
Erbyn 2050 - Haner biliwn yn marw.
· Yng Nghymru 30% o ferched a 20% o fechgyn rhwng 15 ac 16 oed yn ysmygu'n rheolaidd
Hanner y plant 16eg oed yn marw'n gynnar oherwydd iddyn nhw ysmygu.
GWAHARDDIAD GWIRFODDOL
Dyw gwaharddiad gwirfoddol ddim yn gweithio
Ar ôl 3 mis o fannau cyhoeddus di-fwg yn yr Iwerddon, mae 96% o dafarnau yn di-fwg ac ma' pobol Iwerddon yn derbyn y sefyllfa'n hapus.
Ar ôl pum mlynedd o siarter gwirfoddol yn Mhrydain, ma' llai nag 1% o dafarnau yn ddi fwg.
Os yw e'n ddigon da i'r Gwyddelod, ma' fe'n ddigon da i Gymry.
PRAWF FOD GWAHARDD YN GWEITHIO
· Fel arbrawf, fe waharddwyd ysmygu mewn mannau cyhoeddus mewn pentre diarffordd yn America.
O ganlyniad i hyn fe welwyd 68% yn llai o drawiadau ar y galon.
Ar ôl chwe mis, fe godwyd y gwaharddiad ac fe gododd nifer y trawiadau i'r lefel flaenorol.
YSMYGU GODDEFOL
Mwg sigarets yn cynnwys 4,000 o gemegolion:
· Arsenic
· Formalehyde
· Benzene
· Hydrogen cyanide.
Ac mae mwy na 50 o'r cemegolion yma yn cynnwys 'carcinogens' - cemegolion sy'n lladd.
· Mae mwg ail-law yn cynnwys yr union gemegolion sy yn y mwg ma' smygwyr yn eu hanadlu. Felly, mae'r mwg yn beryglus i bawb.
IECHYD GWEITHWYR
Mae pobl sy ddim yn ysmygu, a sy'n gweithio mewn tafarnau llawn mwg - 36 gwaith fwy tebygol o ddioddef o ganser yr ysgyfaint na meddygon sy'n gweithio mewn gweithlefydd di-fwg.
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Key facts on passive smoking
· 85% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless, and is not filtered by conventional ventilation systems.
· The risk of heart disease from passive smoking is equivalent to that from smoking half a pack of cigarettes per day.
· Women who work where smoking is allowed run more than twice the risk of developing lung cancer.
Exposure of non-smokers to second hand smoke is known as passive smoking. It consists primarily of non-inhaled sidestream smoke, together with exhaled smoke.
Almost 85% of second-hand smoke is invisible and odourless gases. Only the particulate matter, in the form of smoke, is visible.Tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 toxins, including over 50 that are known to cause cancer.
Health effects of second-hand smoke
Passive smoking causes illness, including fatal illness. It also worsens existing health problems. The known health effects of passive smoking are summarised below:
Health effects for which there is conclusive evidence:
Adults
Children
Lung cancer
Coronary heart disease
Asthma attacks in those with asthma
Onset of symptoms of heart disease
Worsening of bronchitis symptoms
Cot death (SIDS)
Middle ear infection
Respiratory infections
Development of asthma in those not previously affected
Health effects for which there is substantial evidence:
Adults
Stroke
Development of asthma in those not previously affected
Low birth-weight baby
Premature birth
Other proven health effects
Shortness of breath
Airway irritation
Coughing
Nausea
Headache
Eye irritaion
Effects on adults
A recent evaluation by the International Agency for Research on Cancer has concluded that there is a significant and consistent association between exposure to second-hand smoke and the risk of lung cancer.
The risk of an acute coronary event is significantly increased. The risk of stroke is increased and one study has found it to be doubled.
Exposure to second-hand smoke induces more severe symptoms in those with asthma, reduces the quality of life, reduces lung function and increases hospital admissions. It also triggers further attacks in up to 80% of asthmatics.
Passive smoking exacerbates the symptoms of respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and of coronary and circulatory disease.
Pregnant women who are exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy are at greater risk of having a low-birth-weight baby and of giving birth prematurely.
Effects on children
Passive smoking is associated with a variety of health problems in children. It increases the prevalence of lower respiratory tract illness such as pneumonia, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, coughing and wheezing.
Second-hand smoke can cause asthma in children. It also exacerbates the condition in those who are already affected.
Passive smoking is also a cause of cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).
Dose-response relationship
The risk of most of the illnesses caused by second-hand smoke increases steadily with exposure – a linear dose-response relationship. This includes lung cancer, induction of asthma, cot death and low birthweight.
The dose-response relationship for coronary heart disease is non-linear. Exposure to second-hand smoke at levels of just 1% of those of a smoker carries a risk of ischemic heart disease of almost 50% of someone smoking 20 cigarettes a day.
Best practice
Legislation for smoke-free places has been successfully introduced in a number of countries, including the USA, Canada, Finland, Australia, South Africa and Thailand.
State law introduced in California in1994 requires that all bars, restaurants and public places are smoke-free. A study has concluded that the introduction of smoke-free bars rapidly improved the respiratory health of bar workers. Legislation in Finland bans smoking on public transport, in health and educational facilities, government buildings and all aircraft. South African law prohibits smoking in public places, including workplaces and most transport facilities.
In Finland and South Africa smoking is only allowed in restaurants if smoke cannot spread to the non-smoking area.
Model legislative texts for smoke-free public places have been produced by the World Health Organisation.
The tobacco industry has yet to admit that passive smoking causes serious illness. In private the industry has conducted research that supports the conclusion that passive smoking harms health. Nevertheless, it has continually attempted to discredit the evidence concerning harms caused by passive smoking.
Despite hospitality industry fears that smoke free workplaces could prove to be expensive, evidence shows that smoking bans do not result in a decrease in profit. Implementing work place cessation programmes increase employee productivity and bring about long term financial returns that far outweigh their costs.
Protection against passive smoking – key policy points
No safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke has been identified. Leading international bodies such as WHO and UNICEF have highlighted the need for effective measures to protect against the health effects of second-hand smoke. When a policy to protect against passive smoking is introduced, health improves.
Research shows that the introduction of restrictions on smoking in the workplace helps motivate smokers to quit and increases the likelihood of success among those attempting to quit.
Smoke-free workplaces reduce the prevalence of smoking as well as consumption. The combined effects of people stopping smoking and reducing consumption reduces overall cigarette consumption by 29%.
· Evidence shows that conventional ventilation and air cleaning systems do not provide effective protection against the health effects of second-hand smoke.
Legislation for smoke-free places is more effective than voluntary measures in protecting health.
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