To the editor:

Having Lawrence smoke-free is not a political issue but a health issue.

Did you know:

1. Fifteen percent of cigarette smoke is inhaled by the smoker and 85 percent is released into the air.

2. Second-hand smoke is higher in tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide and cancer-causing chemicals than the smoke inhaled through the cigarette.

3. Second-hand smoke contains 4,000 substances, more than 40 of which are known to cause cancer in people and pets.

4. Second-hand smoke, like asbestos, is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a “Group A carcinogen,” meaning “known to cause cancer in humans.”

5. Second-hand smoke causes 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year in nonsmokers.

6. Second-hand smoke leads to 35,000 deaths per year related to heart disease in nonsmokers.

7. Second-hand smoke impairs fertility with a 15 percent decreased chance of conception in women and a reduced sperm count in men.

8. Second-hand smoke worsens asthma in up to 1 million children.

I love the fact that Lawrence is a city interested in protecting the rights of individuals when possible. However, individuals should not have the right to expose others to toxic carcinogens such as asbestos and second-hand smoke.

If the city of New York and the entire state of California can be smoke-free, then surely we can take action in Lawrence to improve the health of our citizens.

Dr. Lida Osbern,

Lawrence