Page 35 - TAIWAN TOBACCO CONTROL ANNUAL REPORT 2019

Smoke-free Parks and Green Lawns Expanded Smoke-Free Environments to Safeguard the Health of Fellow Citizens Second-hand smoke is the passive or involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke in the environment and is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the WHO as a Group I carcinogen. Other detrimental effects of second-hand smoke include initiating the onset of heart diseases and stroke. Second-hand smoke exposure will worsen respiratory diseases (tympanitis, asthma, bronchitis, and pulmonary emphysema) amongst children as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and diseases in the brain and central nervous system, as well as various cancers such as hepatoblastoma. Research from the American Center of Disease Control (CDC) pointed out that long-term second-hand smoke exposure will increase the risks of cardiovascular disease and stroke by 30-65%. Chances of being affected by lung cancer will also be 20-30% higher than that of non-exposure. Many people visit parks or the National Parks of Taiwan for recreation for the purpose of relaxation, health, and a fresh air free from the Hazards of second- hand smoke. The "Monthly Statistics for the Number of Visitors of Major Recreational and Tourist Destinations in Taiwan of 2012" showed that the average number of visitors to famous landmarks and destinations in Taiwan could reach 10,000 individuals during weekends or public holidays. Such data showed that Taiwan is densely populated and has limited recreational areas. Tourist destinations will be extremely crowded during weekends. Ineffective control of second-hand smoke hazards will seriously affect the health as well as the quality of the trip. Hence, the government must initiate measures to expand the scope of smoke-free environments to safeguard the health of its people. As of April 1,2014, the HPA officially announced that: "With the exception of smoking areas, all designated areas, parks, and green areas in National Parks, National Nature Parks, designated scenic areas, and forest recreation areas shall be non-smoking areas." This makes Taiwan the second country to prohibit smoking in parks and green areas. It is difficult to provide a comprehensive list of every provision in the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act (hereinafter referred to as "this Act") on the measures used to prohibit smoking in public areas and transport. Article 16, Paragraph 1 of this act specifies that:"Smoking in the following places is prohibited except in designated smoking areas, and smoking is completely prohibited therein if no such smoking area is designated: 2.Outdoor stadiums, swimming pools, and 33 ◎ Smoke and Betel-Nut Free activity of Show Chwan Memorial Hospital ◎ Chi Mei Medical Center of Chiali District quiting smoking class smoking cessation program. Reducing the Demand for Tobacco