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"The ban on smoking in public places is a more than positive measure, which can offer short-term benefits," they defend.
The Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) has urged the authorities to pass legislation prohibiting smoking in open public spaces, such as terraces and beaches, in order to avoid the risk of diseases and protect the environment.
SEPAR has recalled that exposure to smoke tobacco, even second and third hand, is associated with an increased risk of chronic cardiorespiratory diseases, cancer lung disease, greater risk of exacerbations and worse prognosis.
Likewise, he has warned about the contamination by cigarette butts, which contain 7.000 toxic elements, in "sensitive" spaces such as beaches, where they finally reach the aquatic environment, shedding microfibers that are later ingested by animals and also by humans through food.
"We cannot forget that according to international studies, In the world, 143.000 cigarette butts are thrown into the environment every second. In fact, cigarette butts make up 40% of the waste in the Mediterranean Sea and require approximately 12 years to degrade," warned pulmonologist and SEPAR environmental coordinator, Cristina Martínez.
"Especially on World Environment Day - which is celebrated this Sunday, June 5 -, The ban on smoking in public places is a more than positive measure, which can offer short-term benefits," he added.
In addition to calling for a ban on smoking in open public spaces, SEPAR also demands an increase in the price of tobacco, establish generic packaging, regulate that both traditional and electronic cigarettes follow the same standards of sale, consumption and advertising, and establish anti-smoking units throughout the national health system that provide health care for smokers to abandon this habit, financing these therapies. .
