Dear Editor:
I strongly agree that it would be nice if all smokers were required to confine their smoking only to those areas where non-smokers wouldn't have to breath in their second-hand smoke.
The harmful effects of second-hand smoke are well-known, and non-smokers should not have to be forced to risk the long-term effects caused by breathing in second-hand smoke.
My wife and I do a lot of walking in our Burnaby neighbourhood and are offended when we have to stand at a street crossing, waiting for the light to change to green for us, and we are surrounded by smokers puffing away, not caring about those around them.
There are also many restaurants where patrons go out and stand on the street to light up and pollute themselves and everyone passing by.
There is a further problem: these areas are also littered with cigarette butts.
The sidewalks and the gutters along the curbs are full of the physical pollution of discarded cigarettes.
When it rains, they get washed down the storm sewers and swept into the rivers where the aquatic wildlife consume these pollutants not knowing it can shorten their life significantly.
We know that non-smokers in British Columbia heavily outnumber the smokers, so why can't we get some legislation passed and then enforced, so we can all enjoy the clean air that we have here in B.C.?
Could the Clean Air Coalition of B.C. not get more active in this area?
Keep up the writing on this issue.
Dr. James Tindle, via email
