Smoking kills 17 times more people each year than are victims of homicide and 50 times more than die from illegal drugs. ETS contains all the toxins inhaled by smokers, leading to lower but significant health problems for nonsmokers. ETS plays a role in up to 40,000 nonsmokers' deaths from heart disease annually, about 3,000 nonsmokers' deaths from lung cancer, and an estimated 12,000 nonsmokers' deaths from other cancers. ETS aggravates nonsmokers' respiratory conditions, particularly asthma. Children exposed to ETS have high rates of colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Pregnant smokers have higher rates of miscarriage and premature babies.
Babies born to smokers have higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome. FDA Commissioner David Kessler places public health above politics. All letters to the editor are for publication and may be edited for length and clarity.