I was intrigued to read about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act which was signed to have the FDA put graphic images on warning labels of cigarette packages. I feel people needed a visual reminder of what cigarettes actually does to them.
As I researched the harmful ingredients, I found an article written by the CYWH (Center for Young Women's Health) at Children's Hospital Boston. It said, "A cigarette contains about 4,000 chemicals, many of which are poisonous." These chemicals are used for horrible things; arsenic in rat poison, methane is rocket fuel, formaldehyde in embalming fluid, and hydrogen cyanide in gas chambers.
"Every time you inhale smoke from a cigarette, you kill some of the air sacks in your lungs, called alveoli ... Alveoli don't grow back," stated the CYWH. This diminishes the ability to breath right; last time I checked breathing was important. Some people think warning people of such things is just wasting money, but it could save someone's life.Therefore, I believe that it is a great idea to show smokers exactly what they are smoking, how it is effecting their bodies, and better inform the general public of the severe danger that cigarettes can cause.
Rebecca Hanson
Junior, Pillager High School
Comments (12)
Add commentSmoking
Take a deep-dive into the chemical make up of a twinkie.
School credit?
Is this open forum week at Pillager High School?
Well said!
This is a good article, and I appreciate that Rebecca put some time and thought into writing it. Rebecca, keep talking--you might save someone's life. Don't be too offended by people who try to blow you off because they are feeling sarcastic and insecure--they are probably defending their addictions. It's typical behavior for someone who feels guilty and frustrated for not quitting.
You go girl
I was once called an idiot on BD because of the 4,000 chemicals part. I guess I wasnt lying was I. Now, you 2 that wanted to put me down because of "false facts" may want to say, "I'm sorry for being wrong in accusing you of being wrong."
Warning labels everywhere!
I work in a factory. Maybe they should put a warning label on the application form letting me know what chemcals i breathe in! Maybe they should do the same on all food packages showing obese people or post pictures at the front of every restaurant. The point is whether it be cigarettes or some other factor, our world is full of dangers, seen and unseen, in everything we do. Picking on those who smoke right now is popular but in the end it is just tunnel vision!!
Ignore at your peril
Excellent letter, Rebecca. Keep up the message.
What are things like salt and
What are things like salt and water then, eh Herc?
They were talking about "chemicals" You need to take chemistry over again.
3 colors
there are only 3 primary colors, but from those 3 primary colors.....
It defies all mathematical logic.
Mo. It doesn't. Maybe you need to take a few math classes too.
smoking
anyone who smokes in this day and age needs their head examined. I smoked back in the day when there wasn't much said about the negative effects of smoking. The cigarette companies even passed out four packs of cigarettes to try to get young people, college age, to smoke, and I was one of them. I smoked for 22 years, and quit in 1981. With the price of smokes today, and the health risks, why????