Harmful Effects of Smoking

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death and disability in the US killing over 400,000 people a year. This is more than alcohol, drugs, car accidents, AIDS, murder and suicide combined.
87% of lung cancer deaths are due to smoking.
30% of all cancer deaths are due to smoking. Smoking is linked to cancers of bladder, pancreas, uterus, cervix, kidney and stomach.
81% of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis) deaths are due to smoking.
Smoking triples risk of coronary heart disease.
21% of all coronary heart disease deaths are due to smoking.
Smoking doubles risk of ischemic stroke.
18% of all stroke deaths are associated with smoking.

Harmful Effects of Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is responsible for approximately 53,000 deaths per year

Secondhand smoke is classified as a known human carcinogen (a substance that is directly involved with the promotion of cancer)

Exposure to Secondhand smoke:

Increases non-smokers chance of developing lung cancer by 20-30%. Secondhand smoke is responsible for approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year.
Increases chance of ischemic heart disease. Secondhand smoke is responsible for approximately 35,000-62,000 ischemic heart disease deaths
Reduces coronary circulation in healthy non-smokers
Restaurant workers are exposed to levels of secondhand smoke that are approximately 1.6 to 2.0 times higher than those to which office workers are exposed on the job. Workers in the "5 B's" (bars, bowling alleys, billiard halls, betting establishments, and bingo parlors) have secondhand smoke exposure levels that are 2.4 to 18.5 times higher than those in offices, and 1.5 to 11.7 times higher than in restaurants - a risk level 47 times higher than the federal government's defined level for a carcinogen
Triggers asthma symptoms and attacks
In children, increases risk of bronchitis, pneumonia, middle ear infections, upper respiratory illness, asthma and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Smokeless Tobacco

Many terms are used to describe smokeless tobacco products such as spit, snuff, and chewing. Oral tobacco in all forms contain known human carcinogens. They can cause the user cancer of the mouth and pancreas, as well as many other health problems such as gum disease and tooth loss. Smokeless tobacco also causes the user to have stained-yellow teeth and bad breath.

Smokeless Tobacco can come in two basic forms:

Snuff: finely ground tobacco packed in cans or pouches that are placed between the cheek and gum. Nicotine is absorbed through the tissues of the mouth. This type of tobacco is designed to be smoke and spit free
Chewing Tobacco: loose tobacco leaves that are bunched together and placed between the cheek and gum. Nicotine is absorbed the the tissues of the mouth as well. However, this form requires the user to spit out brown colored saliva.

What are some risk factors?

Oral (mouth) cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Addiction to nicotine
Receding gums (gums slowly shrink away from around the teeth)
Leukoplakia (white sores in the mouth that can lead to cancer)

Is smokeless tobacco a good substitute to smoking?

NO! Although it is documented that smokeless tobacco products are less lethal than cigarettes, they can lead to many other health problems (listed above) and can greatly increase the users risk for lung cancer.

Smoking Costs to Businesses

Smoking in the workplace damages property and increases cleaning costs. A survey of 2,000 workplaces found that 23.3% of those with smoking restrictions reported a reduction in maintenance costs.
A survey of businesses conducted by the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA) International found that the elimination of smoking from a building reduced cleaning expenses by an average of 10%. A 1993 BMOA Fire Safety Survey found that smoking was cited as the number one cause of fires.
The National Fire Protection Association found that in 1998 (the most recent year for with data is available) smoking materials caused 8,700 fires in non-residential structures resulting in 17 deaths, 163 injuries, and direct property damage of $60.5 million.