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Cons of Public Smoking

Bans on smoking in public places have brought about controversy, according to "USA Today." Many people who previously enjoyed smoking in restaurants and bars have to find a different place to enjoy their cigarettes. The change in public smoking laws might cause differences in the way people choose to socialize. But banning public smoking might allow for significant improvement in people's health and wellness, according to the Action on Smoking and Health website.

  1. Triggers Breathing Problems

    • Public smoking could cause nonsmokers in the area to have a medical emergency because of to breathing problems. Action on Smoking and Health states that more than 100 million Americans have problems with asthma, bronchitis and other breathing-related conditions that smoking can aggravate.

    Circulation Issues

    • The American Cancer Society states that secondhand smoke causes immediate heart and blood circulation problems. This could cause lung cancer and heart disease if people who do not smoke consistently get exposed to secondhand smoke. Public smoking could put people who have never smoked at risk for these diseases.

    Rising Health Care Costs

    • Public smoking costs a significant amount of money by causing diseases. "USA Today" states that cardiovascular diseases cost the country almost $5 billion dollars a year, which can be reduced by 17 percent if public smoking gets banned. This means that people will miss work less and avoid spending as much time in the hospital because of secondhand smoke's effects.

    Litter

    • The Action on Smoking and Health website says cigarette butts cause most of the litter in public places such as parks, beaches and sidewalks. Banning public smoking can help reduce the cost of cleaning up these places. If people cannot smoke publicly, this will also improve the appearance of the areas by reducing the litter.

    Irritation

    • Public cigarette smoke causes people annoyance and irritation, according to Action on Smoking and Health. People might choose to move away from smokers because they do not want to breathe toxic chemicals. Public smoking could mean people would not want to spend time with their families and friends in areas infiltrated with cigarette smoke.

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