Filters are no protection against harmful tobacco

Keith Tucker and Christine Sanders with a dirty filter
from a Seven Mile Beach bar and a clean one

Friday, August 13, 2004

Concerned citizen Keith Tucker contacted the CICS, (Cayman Islands Cancer Society) this week to show them the state of the air filters he had taken from a bar in Seven Mile Beach for cleaning.

Mr Tucker, who runs Pro-Air, and whose own uncle passed away as a result of cancer, called CICS in order to show them the dirt and toxins the filters had collected from the smoky environment in which they were fitted.
He realised that everyone in the bar was breathing in all the pollution he was cleaning out.

Christine Sanders of CICS felt Mr Tucker raised an important issue, as many organisations use the fact they have air filtering systems on their premises as a way of justifying smoking indoors.

“The filters that Keith Tucker showed us demonstrate exactly how much pollution is in the air in bars where smoking is permitted,” said Christine.

“The argument that air filters enable hospitality premises to allow patrons to smoke inside, without harming others, falls apart when you see something like this.

“This adds further to the argument that smoking should be banned indoors in public places.”

Currently, the Cayman Islands have virtually no tobacco laws in force, and there are no restrictions on age, where tobacco can be sold, and where it can be used.

There is however, possible legislation on the horizon, and as considerations are made for future tobacco laws, there will be no doubt objections from certain quarters of the community.

Christine Sanders is keen to ensure that air-filtering and divided areas will not be used as a way to justify the non-introduction of a smoking ban.

“There is a great deal of evidence to suggest that air filters do not protect people,” added Christine.

“One study on the environmental impact of smoking indoors concluded that a ventilation system capable of removing tobacco smoke from the air does not exist.

“Experts have even suggested that a system would have to have something close to the force of a hurricane to be able to remove harmful toxins and pollution from the atmosphere where people were smoking in an enclosed space.”

Tobacco restrictions are increasing around the world, and it is only just a matter of time before the ban extends to the Cayman Islands.

Christine Sanders would like to see it sooner rather than later.

“It is not feasible to consider enacting a smoking ban on our beaches or streets, but there are other methods of control,” said Christine.

“We need to introduce some restrictions on the sale of tobacco products, such as a minimum age, plus restrictions on display as well as a ban on smoking in public indoor places.”

Back...