THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 6, 1995 TAG: 9504060003
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
In response to ``Lighten up on smokers'' (April 3): Larry Rijnovan claims he speaks for the 50 million Americans who smoke. Does he know that 75 percent of Americans are nonsmokers? I applaud your publication for printing the harsh truth about smoking and secondhand smoke.
Unfortunately, Mr. Rijnovan believes that smoking is an economic and rights issue rather than a health issue. The truth is that at least 434,000 deaths occur each year because of smoking (U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 1988 data). This toll exceeds that from alcohol, cocaine, crack, heroin, homicide, suicide, car accidents, fires and AIDS combined.
In addition, secondhand smoke causes 3,000 lung-cancer deaths yearly in nonsmokers.
Nearly a million children with asthma have their conditions worsened by secondhand smoke (EPA, 1993). Airlines are banning smoking on flights due to the high rate of lung cancer among flight attendants.
Airlines, malls and restaurant are not reporting economic losses since going smoke-free. If anything, business is booming!
The smoking issue is not an ``us'' and ``them'' fight. It's a health issue for all of us.
MARY ELLA DOUGLAS
Virginia Beach, April 4, 1995 by CNB