Are you also a second-hand smoker like me who often experiences inconsiderate smokers neighbors who smoke at the corridor or at their kitchen window and the smoke just drifts into our house every single day? Sometimes it’s not once, not twice, but thrice or more. I understand how infuriating it is because we have to endure the harmful air. It is clear that it’s illegal to smoke in corridors in Singapore. However, some smokers are too lazy to go elsewhere to smoke and smoke in their homes at the expense of others’ health. Furthermore, there is little enforcement and surveillance on the laws with regard to smokers. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 8 million deaths are caused by cigarette smoking each year.

	Deaths(every year)
Smokers	>7 million
Non-smokers	~1.2 million

(Table showing the distribution of death caused by cigarette smoking.)

Air pollution and other impacts caused by cigarettes:
Emits around 2.6 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide and 5.2 billion kilograms of methane each year which are caused by (Bialous et al., 2015):

• Forest fires due to Cigarette lighters and disposed cigarettes which are still lit:
  1. Around 17,000 deaths each year
  2. Air pollution from forest fire
  3. Loss in biodiversity and habitat 
• Production of cigarettes:
  1. Some irresponsible producers would burn woods to create fire for drying tobacco leaves.
  2. Tobacco farms that use machines would emit greenhouse gases if fossil fuel is combusted for energy.

(The American Cancer Society, 2017)

Some of those carcinogens mentioned above contribute to global warming and health issues. Do you still remember some of the air pollutants and its impacts which I have shared with you guys before? 😀

Though we have seen all of these above, do you know that actually globally, the death rates from smoking have decreased from 146 per 100,000 people in 1990 to 90 per 100,000 in 2017 (Ritchie & Roser, 2013)?

Nevertheless, smoking should still be an issue for us to be concerned about because I believe that we all have the right to enjoy fresh air and good health. Even Minister Ng Kok Kwang has recently shared on his Facebook page to ask people for their opinions on whether second-hand smokers think that banning smoking in Housing Development Buildings (HDBs) is the way to go. These were the two out of hundreds of responses: 

This shows that the government has to reconsider if the designated areas for smoking are appropriate as it may pose a threat to people living nearby.

 

And this reflects how the laws that are already in place lack stringency.

Overall, I think such a platform is good for the government to be aware of what needs to be improved as I have tried informing the town council in my area several times due to inconsiderate neighbors. However, after three separate attempts, I gave up as nothing was done. Till today, I experienced the same problem every day and I really look forward to seeing improvements and stricter enforcement by the government. 

Not only so, but smokers should also reconsider whether smoking is justifiable and the reasons as to why they continue smoking. If any of you here require help to quit smoking, you can always seek help here. It is never too late and we are here with you for a better and healthier life! 🙂 Also, if you would like to help a smoker to quit smoking and don’t know how to, you may check out this page. Your help would be deeply appreciated! 🙂

Alternatively, smokers can reconsider greener options for the environment or be more considerate by practicing empathy and go to places that allow smoking. With their cooperation, the government’s stricter enforcements, and some changes, we would all be able to enjoy the life that we want without compromising the health of others and also our environment.

Your environmental buddy,
Zhi Yong

References:
Bialous, S. A., Burt, L., Curtis, C., Costa, V. L., D’espaignet, E. T.,Iqtidar, S. U., Novotny, T. E. (2015). The environmental and health impacts of tobacco agriculture, cigarette manufacture and consumption. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 93(12), 877-880. doi:10.2471/blt.15.152744

Ministry of Health, Health Hub. Help Someone Quit Smoking. (2019, November 12). Retrieved from https://www.healthhub.sg/live-healthy/466/helpsomeonequitsmoking

Ministry of Health, Health Hub. Quit Smoking Clinics. (2019, December 27). Retrieved from https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/medical-and-care-facilities/25/quit-smoking-clinic

Ng, L. (2020, September 6). Louis Ng Kok Kwang: [ Going Crazy about secondhand smoke? 😱 ] Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/LouisNgKokKwang/posts/3945647245462389

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2013, May 23). Smoking. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/smoking

The American Cancer Society. Harmful Chemicals in Tobacco Products. (2017, April 5). Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/tobacco-and-cancer/carcinogens-found-in-tobacco-products.html

World Health Organization. Tobacco. (2020, May 27). Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco