Outdoor secondhand smoke a myth

Anti-smoking zealots continue to base their arguments on the fiction that “secondhand smoke” endangers their health, giving them the power to trample the rights of others [“A right to safely enjoy city parks,” Opinion, Feb. 9].

Secondhand smoke is specifically defined as concentrations of smoke in an enclosed area. Concentrations of smoke — even a few feet away from a smoker — in an outdoor area would be virtually unmeasurable and certainly not harmful. Risk from indoor secondhand smoke — as correctly defined — does pose a health risk to others and is properly prohibited. But the science [concerning outdoor secondhand smoke] has been purposely twisted to further a political agenda that seeks to “improve” the lives of others.

One speaker at the Parks Board on Monday admitted that she supports the ban to “pressure smokers to help them quit.” Such “help” is not needed by adults who have the ability to choose for themselves. Outdoor smoking does not endanger the health of others, despite unfounded beliefs of those whose real agenda is a total ban on tobacco and further control over the individual choices of others.

— Paul Gaskill, Seattle

Helps those with chronic respiratory diseases

I recently attended the Seattle Parks Board hearing which was held at City Hall on Jan. 28. Many people shared personal experiences about how they had been affected by smoking permitted at parks. One attendee brought in tons of cigarette butts they had collected from the area, discussed how the chemicals enter our water system and how it takes years for the chemicals to get out of the water source.

I work with people with chronic diseases including asthma, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes and I always recommend that these people exercise in our parks. Patients have expressed that the smoking in parks is a problem for them and we need smoke-free parks.

A patient’s major goal is going to the park after they are seen by health educators, which is an easy and realistic goal. For many people, going to parks is the only option they have for physical activity and exercise, since most of our patients can’t afford a gym membership.

People who currently smoke will also benefit from smoke-free parks. From my personal experience, most people want to quit smoking. However, when they go to a park, they are confronted with that addiction and have more barriers to quitting. We can all help people quit smoking with a ban in parks.

— Edgar Lopez, Burien