Presentation of Problem
Smoking is a major concern in WSU. Currently, the institution’s smoking area is emitting so much smoke in the environment that in turn induces non-smokers to passive smoking (WSU, 2016). Passive smoking is involuntary smoking that occurs as a result of inhaling smoke from the cigarette tip and the one that is exhaled by an active smoker(s) (environmental tobacco smoke). Just like active smoking, passive smoking can have far-reaching consequences on the non-smoker’s health. For instance, both the smokers and non-smokers in the university are likely to be diagnosed with smoking-related illnesses such as lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and chronic bronchitis amongst others. Both the active as well as the passive smokers are subjected to a wide range of toxic, carcinogenic products and other tobacco smoke irritants that are responsible for causing various diseases. The exposure to such irritants makes both parties equally prone to contracting smoke-associated diseases. Secondhand smoke is typically inevitable for those in an environment having cigarette smoke.
According to Bichard (1998), there is a close association between secondhand smoke and some chronic diseases such as cancer. Besides, Cao, Yang, Gan, and Lu (2015) found out that there was a statistical significance between passive smoking and lung cancer. The smoke inhaled by the nonsmokers can also affect other organs that have no direct contact with the smoke, for example, liver. The smoking area in WSU is currently utilized by a lot of people encompassing students, staff, as well as, visitors. The increased number of individuals using smoking area translates into increased environmental smoke levels. Several factors lead to increased smoking in the university. For instance, the smokers are ill-informed on the hazards of smoking that can be explained by their constant increase. On the other hand, the non-smokers are less concerned with their health due to the assumption that the smoke from the smoking zone is insignificant to the WSU environment.
High smoke volumes in WSU can also be attributed to the lack of specific provision limiting the number of people utilizing the facility at a given moment that makes smokers use it without considering their total smoke emission volume. According to research, mainstream smoke is renowned for having lesser toxic components as compared to the side stream tobacco (Protano & Vitali, 2011). Following the increased smoking rates in the university, there is the need for devising the best approach that will minimize or entirely eradicate the adverse impacts of environmental smoke. Through initiating such an intervention, there will be an enhancement of the non-smokers’ and the smokers’ health as well as cutting the health care cost that is involved in caring for those having smoking-related diseases in WSU.
Proposed Solution
The problem of emitting too much smoke in WSU as a result of excessive smoking can be countered by educating the smokers about the health, social, as well as the economic implications of smoking. Such a method is essential since it will lay the foundation for creating an awareness program for educating the smokers on the benefits of quitting smoking. Besides, the non-smokers should also receive relevant education on the hazards of passive smoking. Establishing awareness programs will induce smokers to stop smoking as well as making the non-smokers avoid going in areas that may have excess smoke especially the smoking area. The solution process will also involve a construction of a smoking lounge for purposes of eliminating the smoke that could otherwise be emitted into the environment.
The smoking room will be fitted with smoke converters that will convert carcinogens and other smoke irritants to less harmless products such as water. The institution will make it mandatory for all the smokers to utilize the facility. Besides, it will fix a minimum number of individuals who will be using the facility at any given time. Such a move will eliminate the smoke emitted in the environment and thus curb non-smokers from contracting smoking-related illnesses. The smoking lounges are mostly used in the airports to curb passive smoking. Just the very way they eliminate secondhand smoking in airports, they will also reduce passive smoking in WSU. A combination of awareness programs and erection of a smoking lounge in the institution will thus entirely curb environmental smoke and passive smoking.
Smoking rooms have a long-standing history since the 1850s during the Crimean war when Turkish tobacco became prevalent among men (Turner, 2005). After the dinner, the men went to a separate room for smoking. The smoking lounge eventually began being used in the airports for eliminating secondhand smoking. Construction of smoking lounge in airports has successfully reduced passive smoking (Frankfurt Airport Smoking Facilities with Four Lounges, 2013).
Conclusion
Excessive smoking in the smoking area in WSU is emitting so much smoke in the area that induces passive smoking in the institution. Environmental smoke is associated with adverse health conditions that affect the health of non-smokers. Besides, it also makes people incur so much regarding costs especially for the care of those suffering from smoking-related diseases. The solution to environmental smoke can be achieved by combining both the erection of a smoking lounge in WSU and creating awareness programs in the institution. Through employing the two approaches, the smoking-associated diseases will be eradicated and thus eliminate costs associated with caring of those suffering from such diseases.
References
Birchard, K. (1998). European study reports passive smoking dangers. Lancet, 352(9136), 1288.
Cao, S., Yang, C., Gan, Y., & Lu, Z. (2015). The Health Effects of Passive Smoking: An
Overview of Systematic Reviews Based on Observational Epidemiological Evidence. Plos ONE, 10(10), 1-12. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0139907
Frankfurt Airport Smoking Facilities with Four Lounges. (2013). AirGuide for the Frequent
Flyer, 65.
Protano, C., & Vitali, M. (2011). The New Danger of Thirdhand Smoke: Why Passive Smoking
Does Not Stop at Secondhand Smoke? Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(10), A422. doi:10.1289/ehp.1103956
Turner, M. J. (2005). 'To Reduce Wars and Fighting to a Minimum': Thomas Perronet Thompson
on War and Peace during the 1840s and 1850s. War In History, 12(2), 125-155. doi:10.1191/0968344505wh315oa
WSU. (2016). Smoking and tobacco use policy. Retrieved May 20, 2016, from
https://www.vancouver.wsu.edu/safety-plan/smoking-and-tobacco-use-policy
