This is the VOA Special English Health Report.
Scientific evidence has been building about the dangers to people who do not
smoke from those who do. Now the top doctor in the United States says the
evidence cannot be argued: secondhand tobacco smoke is a serious public health
risk.
Recently Surgeon General Richard Carmona released the government's largest
report ever on secondhand smoke. For example, it says nonsmokers increase their
risk of lung cancer by up to thirty percent if they live with a smoker.
Doctor Carmona noted the added dangers faced by children
who have to breathe secondhand smoke. These children are at increased risk for
sudden infant death syndrome
, severe breathing problems and ear infections. The report says smoking
by parents also slows lung growth in their children.
Children are especially at risk from the poisonous chemicals in tobacco smoke
because their bodies are still developing.
Smoking during pregnancy can lead to babies with low birth weight. And low
birth weight can lead to many health problems.
The surgeon general says there is no safe level of secondhand smoke. Effects
in the blood can be seen after even a short time in a smoky room.
Scientists have estimated that secondhand smoke kills about fifty thousand
adults in the United States each year. Most of these nonsmokers die from heart
disease, the others from lung cancer. Also, an estimated four hundred thirty
newborn babies die from sudden infant death syndrome as a result of secondhand
smoke.
Scientists have identified more than fifty
cancer-causing substances in secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke also damages blood
passages. And it reduces the ability of the heart to correct abnormal heartbeats
.
The report says separating smokers from nonsmokers or
trying to clean the air in buildings is not enough protection. Doctor Carmona
noted the progress in establishing smoke-free public
places
in the United States. Blood tests show
that Americans are being exposed to secondhand smoke in fewer numbers and at
lower levels since the late nineteen eighties.
But the surgeon general says almost half of all nonsmokers in the United
States are still breathing tobacco smoke at home, work or both.
The first surgeon general's report warning about the dangers of cigarettes
came out in nineteen sixty-four.
And that's the VOA Special English Health Report for
this week, written by Caty Weaver. Transcripts and archives are at
voaspecialenglish.com. I'm Shep O'Neal.
sudden infant death
syndrome :嬰兒猝死綜合癥
heartbeat :
心跳
smoke-free public place : 無(wú)煙區(qū)
（來(lái)源：VOA 英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津姍姍編輯）
