Dear Editor,
As a pulmonary physician who works in the area, I strongly urge the Augusta-Richmond Commission to vote against the amendment to weaken the local smoke-free law and allow cigar lounges.
Every day, I see many patients whose lives have been damaged by smoking, and cigars are no exception. In fact, cigars contain the same addictive, toxic and carcinogenic compounds found in cigarettes and are not a safe alternative to combustible cigarettes. Cigar smoking can cause cancers of the lung, oral cavity, larynx and esophagus.
MORE: Cigar Bars May Be Coming to Augusta
Beyond the risks for cigar smokers, the secondhand smoke poses a significant risk to employees and other patrons of these bars. According to the CDC, secondhand smoke is a known cause of lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, and can cause or make worse a wide range of damaging health effects including respiratory infections and diseases such as asthma. There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and even short-term exposure potentially can increase the risk of heart attacks.
I ask the Commission to please protect our community by keeping Augusta’s smoke-free ordinance strong and say NO to cigar lounge exemptions.
–Rabih Bechara
Rabih Bechara, M.D., FCCP, is a professor of medicine within the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Augusta University and National Board Member for the American Lung Association.
