In 1993, the EPA published a report claiming that secondhand smoke (SHS — also sometimes known as environmental tobacco smoke or ETS) causes three thousand deaths from lung cancer every year. Anyone doubting this result has been subject to attack and depicted as a toady of the tobacco lobby. The attacks have been led by a smear blog called DeSmogBlog, financed by the Canadian PR firm of James Hoggan, and have been taken up with great ent ... Jump to full article >>

The massive oil slick menacing the Gulf of Mexico and now some barrier islands off the coast of Louisiana could prove devastating to the environment while posing risks to public health, experts say. Some people along the coast are already reporting headaches, nausea, coughing and throat irritation, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), an environmental action group. “There are significant health risks associated with this ... Jump to full article >>

Banning smoking at state beaches and parks is a win for the public and for the environment. There are times when a day at the beach feels more like a frolic in an ashtray, with cigarette butts liberally strewn through the sand and between our toes. On beach cleanup days in California, they are the No. 1 trash item that the volunteers pick up — 340,221 in a single day in 2009. That alone was a good enough reason for the Assembly to pass Sen ... Jump to full article >>

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) – Voters in St. Louis County recently passed a ban on smoking in most public places, and that has folks pushing for a similar ban in Cape Girardeau excited. The folks Heartland News talked to believe they can work with city leaders to pass a similar ordinance down the road to ban smoking in most public places. It’s a proposal that’s so controversial it gets people fired up no matter how they feel. You ... Jump to full article >>

FAIRBANKS — Last month at the B&B, the conversation often revolved around the level of smoke that filled the air in Fairbanks from nearby forest fires. The smoke discussions not only ignited conversations about smoke but of smoking. The topic began when a guest expressed her surprise to find a Fairbanks bar where smoking was allowed. She referred to it as a bar with the blue room. All of the advertising for the inn includes the stateme ... Jump to full article >>