Ontario docs warn against smoking in cars, home
Following up on a landmark report that revealed the risks of exposure to second-hand smoke, the Ontario Medical Association is advising the province to extend public smoking bans into private places.
Commenting on the report, "Exposure to second-hand smoke: Are we protecting our kids?" OMA executive director Dr. Ted Boadway says smoking in cars and private homes poses a significant risk, especially to kids.
At a news conference in Toronto on Thursday, Dr. Boadway told reporters that, because their bodies are still developing, children are particularly susceptible to the variety of respiratory illnesses, cancers and heart disease that have been linked to smoking.
Although the OMA praises the Ontario government for passing a law banning smoking in public places, it says more must be done to protect those who have little control over their environment, and are yet exposed to second-hand smoke.
The OMA is recommending government turn its attention to raising awareness around the issue and, possibly, instituting a ban on smoking in any homes or facilities that offer childcare services.
"Lots of folks are unaware of what needs to be done to remedy this problem," Boadway said, explaining that opening a car or home window provides little relief -- unless a gale force wind is blowing through it.
The reason, Boadway said, is that cigarettes release gaseous chemicals in smoke that condense on surfaces, and are then re-released later.
"When you stand beside a smoker in the elevator and they have that stink about them -- that's because they're off-gassing," he explained. "That's exactly what happens in a home or car."
"So the idea that one can smoke and then stop when the kids come home -- all that does is expose them to what you did before and that really is no help at all."
Funding smoking cessation therapies for adults who want to reduce their smoking around kids at home or in their car would go a long way towards curbing the problem, Boadway said.
On June 1, Toronto became Ontario's latest municipality to ban smoking in all public businesses. Ottawa, Victoria and Winnipeg already had such by-laws in place.
Manitoba and New Brunswick are Canada's first provinces to institute provincewide bans on smoking in public spaces. A similar law takes effect in Saskatchewan next January.
