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Persuasive Essay On Secondhand Smoke

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A cigarette does not only shorten your life by puff, but also the life of your child. The use of tobacco "remains the leading preventable cause of death in the United States” causing more than 440,000 deaths each year and resulting in an annual cost of more than $75 billion in medical expenses, says David Marks in his novel, Overcoming Your Smoking Habits. Nonetheless, what is not discussed is secondhand smoke is the third leading cause of death in the United States, also known as chronic lower respiratory disease. Secondhand smoke can affect a child mentally and physically, from diseases to learning disabilities, and post-traumatic stress. Children from birth to seven years of age are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke because their lungs are not fully developed. (Marks 3)
Secondhand Smoke (SHS) is defined as smoke from burning tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes, which is also titled “sidestream” smoke. As well as, smoke that has been exhaled, or breathed out, by the person smoking titled “mainstream” smoke. Mainstream smoke is usually the central cause of most of the effects of SHS. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, There are over 7,000 chemicals in tobacco, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer. Individuals can be exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, cars, the workplace, and public places, such as bars, restaurants, and recreational settings. While children are primarily exposed to secondhand smoke within schools, public places such as playgrounds, restaurants, movie theatres, and almost always the home. (National Cancer Institute)
Half of all American children live with a person who smokes and nine million children breathe cigarette smoke frequently. Secondhand smoke is a widely known issue, but little to nothing is being done about it. By the home is one of the most primary places children are exposed to smoke, it means their own family members and loved ones are shortening their lives. Some of the effects secondhand smoke causes on children include: ear infections; more frequent and severe asthma attacks; respiratory symptoms (for example, coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath); respiratory infections (bronchitis

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