Ventilation
“The Unwelcome Guest: How Scotland invited the tobacco industry to smoke outside”
“Obtaining support for the use of ventilation is a tactic also outlined in BAT’s ‘Project Care’ report, which is described as concerned with “resocialising smoking” by gaining support for air filtration. “The ultimate objective is to win the support of non-smokers to retaining the availability of the indoor environment for smokers”. We are proud, but we are under no illusions as we move into the pre-implementation phase of going smoke-free. The journey doesn’t stop here. In many ways this is just the beginning. There is already talk of legal action from sectors of the hospitality industry, and we know from experiences in other countries that we will face further opposition in various shapes, forms and guises. There are many tobacco industry battles to come, in Scotland, in the UK and internationally. Our tale of victory isn’t sufficient in itself to force the tobacco industry to concede.
Indeed, their journey hasn't stopped there.
“There are many tobacco industry battles to come, in Scotland, in the UK and internationally. Our tale of victory isn’t sufficient in itself to force the tobacco industry to concede.”
This raises quite a number of questions. The expected “many tobacco industry battles to come” justify delaying research and development of essentially life saving technologies, such as ventilation/air cleaning. Declaring that “there was no safe level” for second hand smoke and concluding that nothing other than an indoor tornado would be effective and therefore only a smoking ban would ensure this illusive “safety” air filtration research[1] and development has been and is being seriously compromised. Yet air filtration is very important, ensuring a safe environment for countless workers and the public. In a hospital environment when it comes to eliminating hospital acquired infections, such as MRSA (methicillin resistent staphylococcus aureus), air filtration is a vital tool. Would this development and deployment of air filtration in hospital environments not have come much sooner if it wasn't for ASH's negativity? If viruses (0.001 – 0.01 microns) can be eliminated and destroyed from air in an enclosed space[2], what is the problem with cigarette and cooking (0.3 – 1 microns) smoke?
Looking at particle sizes:
| Human hair | 150 microns |
| Particles still visible to the naked eye | 25 microns |
| Pollen | 10 microns |
| Plant spores, Mold | 5 -10 microns |
| Bacteria, Animal Dander | 1 – 5 microns |
| Tobacco and Cooking Smoke | 0.3 – 1 microns |
