Scotland’s smoking ban is 20 years old this week
Twenty years ago, on Sunday 26 March 2006, Scotland became one of the first countries in the world to introduce a new UK-leading law to protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand cigarette smoke in indoor public spaces – now it’s time for the Scottish Government to ban the other second-hand smoke – woodsmoke.
Woodsmoke contains most of the same carcinogens, mutagens and teratogens (substances linked to birth defects) that are in tobacco smoke, but in much greater quantities regardless of whether wet or dry wood or smokeless coal is being burnt.
Whilst no one would dream of lighting a cigarette in a pub or restaurant nowadays in Scotland, many of us are working, eating and drinking in establishments where we are regularly exposed to these same health harming chemicals because of woodburning stoves that are being installed in an increasing number of pubs and restaurants for aesthetic purposes to create an “ambience”.
Why woodsmoke is worse than cigarette smoke
Extracts of particulate matter “containing substantial quantities of wood smoke” were found to be 30 times more potent at inducing tumors than extracts of cigarette smoke condensate in a laboratory study.
Mucus production in our airways increases in response to breathing in harmful substances such as smoke. In people with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and COPD, this process persists and can result in serious health outcomes, including blocked airways. Wood smoke is more potent than cigarette smoke in triggering this process.
The toxic free radicals in wood smoke remain chemically active 40 times longer than those from cigarette smoke.
And yet, many people still burn garden waste, sit around fire pits and eat in pubs and restaurants exposing themselves and their children to potential lifelong cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological conditions.
The scientific evidence is clear and has been for some time that woodsmoke is bad for our health. It’s now time for the Scottish Government to address this new and growing source of pollution and introduce legislation to ban unnecessary burning outdoors and indoors.