If good health and clean air are priorities for Nova Scotians, so are smoke-free places. We have overwhelming evidence that second-hand smoke is a major public health hazard. For decades we have lived with and tolerated second-hand smoke. However, many of us grew up in a time when the links had not yet been made - when we had not yet realized that smoky environments compromised the health of ourselves and those around us. This doesn't mean that we can continue to ignore the obvious.
Tobacco smoke is a complicated pollutant - an airborne mixture of toxic particles and gases.
Ventilation systems recirculate the polluted air, spreading the smoke through the airspace rather than getting rid of it. Turning on a fan, opening a window, filtering the air, blowing smoke away from our colleagues, friends, or children - none of these solves the problem. Make your home and car smoke-free. Go to Top Footnotes by Section Second-Hand Smoke 1. This estimate is based on lung cancer deaths only.