Ventilation! Ventilation! Ventilation!

According to the bogus 2006 Surgeon General Report on Second-Hand Smoke, not even the most advanced ventilation system can protect against the evils of second-hand smoke.

If we continue with that line of reasoning, the Lowry and Hiawatha Tunnels in Minneapolis should be closed down immediately, because the ventilation systems cannot possibly protect against the harms of automobile exhaust.

Also, a study published in January 2004 shows that “The findings of this study suggest that the U. S. Navy’s submarine atmosphere-control system is performing its designated task adequately during the time frame of the study. Nonsmokers demonstrated urine cotinine levels well below the values indicative of significant passive smoke exposure. Neither the location of the smoking area nor the nonsmoker’s work proximity to the smoking area affected passive smoke exposure.”

Also, we must not forget about the air quality testing conducted by the City of St Louis Park in 2004 shows that the Nicotine levels were far below OSHA standards.

Yet, the anti-smoking groups refuse to compromise on the issue, clinging tightly to the former Surgeon General’s Report. Yet, common sense would tell most of us that ventilation systems serve a purpose, and that those ventilation systems would also help to eliminate most second-hand smoke.

Our friends in St Louis, MO have begun to push the air ventilation issue. St. Louis does not have a smoking ban currently, however, some lawmakers are moving in that general direction.

More on this from Ban the Ban Wisconsin:

Keep in mind that Corey Lawson (and member of the Smoke-Free St. Louis Coalition)had initially opened “rBar” as a non-smoking establishment, and had to close it because of lack of business.

Also, a source in St. Louis has informed us that  Corey is admitting that he is installing air filtration technology to address the health risks of secondhand smoke in his bar.  In other words, this member of the Smoke-Free St. Louis Coalition believes that modern air filtration (like the ones sold at Marth Brothers) does indeed filter out the “dangerous” chemicals in secondhand smoke.

We’ve also heard rumblings that the American Cancer Society is getting nervous because air filtration is becoming well-known and supported, and the St. Louis press is turning on the anti-smoking movement.  Nervous?  Why?  If air filtration works, shouldn’t the ACS be supporting the installation of these air-cleaners?

If you’re from St. Louis, please support Corey’s new bar, “AM Lounge”, and let us know how how his air filtration system is working.  We’d love to hear from you, especially if you’re a non-smoker.

It seems blatantly obvious that air filtration would have been an option that nearly everyone could have lived with here in Minnesota. Nobody wants to walk into a bar with a blue haze in it. And giving bars the option to upgrade their ventilation systems or prohibit smoking in their establishments would have been a much more palatable option for everyone.