harmful effects of smoking
...tion. Since the early 1960s, smoking has been medically known to cause cancer and other serious diseases. There is also enough scientific evidence to prove that a non-smoker who inhales in second-hand cigarette smoke faces an equally serious health risk. This medical revelation prompted, many developed and developing countries in the world to introduce programmes to control smoking, including restricting or prohibiting smoking in enclosed public areas and workplaces to protect non-smokers from exposure to the harmful effects of secondary tobacco smoke. In Singapore, prohibition on smoking was first introduced in 1970 to cover public buses and theatres. Since then, the prohibition has been extended progressively to more public places and vehicles. Despite the many reasons given for initiation, the fact remains that many people who try out smoking will eventually become addicted to smoking due to nicotine. Overseas studies have found that about one-third to half of those who experiment with cigarettes end up as regular smokers. Nicotine enters the body through the mouth, throat and lungs. It takes only about 10 seconds for nicotine to travel from the smoke in the lungs t...