Mr. Speaker, under the theme of “Tobacco Kills—Don't be Duped”, World No Tobacco Day has two aims: to encourage the authorities responsible to take specific steps and to make the public aware of the real problem that secondhand smoke represents.
It is not a minor irritation to non-smokers, but a real danger to public health in general. A smoker inhales only about a third of a cigarette, and secondhand smoke contains 43 cancer causing chemicals. Over half the population is exposed daily to secondhand smoke.
Tobacco smoke is a real health threat and ranks third as a primary cause of death, behind active smoking and the use of alcohol. There is no doubt that secondhand smoke causes a number of deaths each year.
Let us join together in our fight against smoking and particularly against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke on public health in general.