Woman's Death Linked to Second-Hand Smoking

The death of a young waitress suffering from asthma who died at her workplace was reported to be a result of environmental tobacco smoke.

A woman, who seemed quite healthy and happy when she arrived at her workplace, collapsed after about 20 minutes and died. Later, the autopsy showed that she died from acute asthma associated with work-related ETS(environmental tobacco smoke).

The woman's death raised the issue of safety in the workplace. Previous studies showed that bar and restaurant workers showed significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and lung function after smoking ban was introduced. Earlier, it was suggested that environmental tobacco smoke may cause coronary heart disease, lung cancer and premature death. The reported case highlights the danger of a second hand smoking to all employees.

Kenneth Rosenman, an MSU professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine said that ETC has long-term effects not only for people suffering from asthma, but other employees, who have a right to work in a healthy and safe environment.

In US, 23 states introduced smoking ban in restaurants and bars. Many restaurant and bar owners are afraid that their business would be damaged if they have a smoking ban. Rosenman explains that the situation is quite the opposite with numerous studies showing the improvement of the business after smoking ban.

The case was published in the February edition of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

# Comments

Apr 14, 2008 06:16 AM » posted by: snsuresh

the smoking should be banned completely, the smokers should give off their habits

Feb 27, 2008 06:42 PM » posted by: chsorioles2008

I am honestly sorry that this happened but i dont think that smoking should be banned in public places. It goes against personal rights. Most workers usually know when they have health problems and if they think that they are going to be affected by their work environment they need to find a different job that suits them better. I do however think that smoking and non smoking sections of places like restaurants should be better separated. and also if they were to ban smoking in public places...I'm pretty sure people can wait to have a cigarette until they get home or in their car. or go smoke outside. it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Feb 12, 2008 02:40 PM » posted by: Phil

How long will it take until all states have protected worker's health, and banned smoking in all workplaces. This is the recommendation of pretty much all public health experts. The medical community and the general public need to insist that something be done as soon as possible in the areas that do not already have strong smoking regulations. Otherwise, other workers will become ill, and some will die as the result of secondhand smoke exposure.

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