Re: The smoking issue associated with air pollution

[Guest guest]

I live less than three miles from a waste reduction facility. In other

words, a really giant trash incinerator. They say it's safe... but you can

t prove it by me.

-------Original Message-------

From: jane mosher

Date: 02/04/07 13:12:59

Subject: [ ] The smoking issue associated with air pollution

In light of the recent news that women are who live in polluted areas are

more likely to have heart attacks and it has always been known that living

in polluted areas is the equivalent of smoking a certain number of packs a

day, I wonder if this is not the issue. I wonder how many of us live in

polluted cities. JAM

[Guest guest]

Denver, LA, and Houston have much higher incidences of lung cancer throughout

the population (not just women), compared to similar cities with lower pollution

levels. The last time I went to LA and Denver I thought I was going to die

(literally). The pollution in these cities (because they are in valleys and

produce oil (Houston)) is extremely dangerous.

jane mosher <janeannmosher@...> wrote: In light of the recent

news that women are who live in polluted areas are more likely to have heart

attacks and it has always been known that living in polluted areas is the

equivalent of smoking a certain number of packs a day, I wonder if this is not

the issue. I wonder how many of us live in polluted cities. JAM

instdesgn1 <instdesgn1@...> wrote: The thing about smoking always sets me

off !!! Like you, I've never

smoked anything of any kind at any time in my entire life. My

parents did not smoke and my husband does not smoke yet I've got lung

disease. I was infuriated with the pulmo doc who asked me at least 4

times if I had ever smoked. (Is there some old Native American thing

about being asked a question 4 times - north, east, south, and west

and if the answer is the same every time it's true?) On a subsequent

visit he asked if I had been able to cut back on smoking any. I did

not view the comment as funny and let him know very loudly AGAIN -

never smoked anything in my life. The bottom line is, they're

helpless in treating the disease and it's an affront to their last

vestiges (sp?) of power. The wife of the man who played Superman

(Reese?) died from lung cancer in her forties yet I've heard she

never smoked. Have heard the same from others. It might be unusual

but it does happen. Thankfully, I don't have the big Ca though. I

do have allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and asthma and copd.

Still waiting for SPOC to get their act together and call the

insurance for approval .......

> > >

> > > I am curious how many on this board smoke. Thanks for

> > your reply.

> > >

> >

> > You must be kidding right? Most of us can barely breathe

> > as it is.

>

> I have seen folks smoke from tracheostomies. They had

> head/lung/larynx cancer, needing oxygen and sometimes

> smoked with oxygen on (not cool in the hospital).

>

> I had a patient that had his whole left lung removed. The

> only thing that motivated this guy to get up after surgery

> was a promised trip to the smoking room. This was back in

> the mid 80's, when there were smoking rooms for patients

> who could crawl to get there nic fix.

>

> This guy dragged two electronic IV pole gizmos and an old

> school style chest tube set up to get his smokey treat.

> The chest tube set up was the kind that had those huge

> glass jugs. That thing was like moving a small filing

> cabinet.

> He was full of lung cancer. Didn't give a sh#t. Had to

> have a few puffs of his unfilter sticks. Walked backed to

> the room, and asked for his breathing treatment. (shrug)

>

> Almost all my doctors asked how long I've been smoking.

> Interesting, since I've never smoked EVER. Really, how

> come your lungs are so bad? (bad karma??? who knows)

>

> I don't think smoking excludes one from getting Xolair. My

> pulmonary doctor says about 50% of his patients with

> serious lung diseases still smoke. I don't know how he

> keeps his sanity.

>

> So...I wouldn't be shocked if some smoke while on Xolair.

> Wise? Probably not. Smokey treats were never my vice of

> choice. I don't understand it, but I do know that the Nic

> Monkey is one mean beast.

>

> Nan-->nebbing as I type...ohhhh...multi-tasking!

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> ****Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff***

> -=Harvey Pekar=-

>

>

>

>

__________________________________________________________

______________

> Never Miss an Email

> Stay connected with on your mobile. Get started!

> http://mobile./services?promote=mail

>

---------------------------------

Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from real people

who know.

[Guest guest]

I lived in Los Angeles for over 25 years.

My wife thought she had lung problems and went to see a Pulmo. He

stated, " living in Los Angeles is like smoking a whole train load of

cigarettes " . Go figure, LOL (I no longer live in LA)

On Feb 4, 2007, at 1:14 PM, McLaughlin wrote:

> Denver, LA, and Houston have much higher incidences of lung cancer

> throughout the population (not just women), compared to similar

> cities with lower pollution levels. The last time I went to LA and

> Denver I thought I was going to die (literally). The pollution in

> these cities (because they are in valleys and produce oil

> (Houston)) is extremely dangerous.

>

> jane mosher <janeannmosher@...> wrote: In light of the recent

> news that women are who live in polluted areas are more likely to

> have heart attacks and it has always been known that living in

> polluted areas is the equivalent of smoking a certain number of

> packs a day, I wonder if this is not the issue. I wonder how many

> of us live in polluted cities. JAM

>

> instdesgn1 <instdesgn1@...> wrote: The thing about smoking

> always sets me off !!! Like you, I've never

> smoked anything of any kind at any time in my entire life. My

> parents did not smoke and my husband does not smoke yet I've got lung

> disease. I was infuriated with the pulmo doc who asked me at least 4

> times if I had ever smoked. (Is there some old Native American thing

> about being asked a question 4 times - north, east, south, and west

> and if the answer is the same every time it's true?) On a subsequent

> visit he asked if I had been able to cut back on smoking any. I did

> not view the comment as funny and let him know very loudly AGAIN -

> never smoked anything in my life. The bottom line is, they're

> helpless in treating the disease and it's an affront to their last

> vestiges (sp?) of power. The wife of the man who played Superman

> (Reese?) died from lung cancer in her forties yet I've heard she

> never smoked. Have heard the same from others. It might be unusual

> but it does happen. Thankfully, I don't have the big Ca though. I

> do have allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis and asthma and copd.

> Still waiting for SPOC to get their act together and call the

> insurance for approval .......

>

>

> > > >

> > > > I am curious how many on this board smoke. Thanks for

> > > your reply.

> > > >

> > >

> > > You must be kidding right? Most of us can barely breathe

> > > as it is.

> >

> > I have seen folks smoke from tracheostomies. They had

> > head/lung/larynx cancer, needing oxygen and sometimes

> > smoked with oxygen on (not cool in the hospital).

> >

> > I had a patient that had his whole left lung removed. The

> > only thing that motivated this guy to get up after surgery

> > was a promised trip to the smoking room. This was back in

> > the mid 80's, when there were smoking rooms for patients

> > who could crawl to get there nic fix.

> >

> > This guy dragged two electronic IV pole gizmos and an old

> > school style chest tube set up to get his smokey treat.

> > The chest tube set up was the kind that had those huge

> > glass jugs. That thing was like moving a small filing

> > cabinet.

> > He was full of lung cancer. Didn't give a sh#t. Had to

> > have a few puffs of his unfilter sticks. Walked backed to

> > the room, and asked for his breathing treatment. (shrug)

> >

> > Almost all my doctors asked how long I've been smoking.

> > Interesting, since I've never smoked EVER. Really, how

> > come your lungs are so bad? (bad karma??? who knows)

> >

> > I don't think smoking excludes one from getting Xolair. My

> > pulmonary doctor says about 50% of his patients with

> > serious lung diseases still smoke. I don't know how he

> > keeps his sanity.

> >

> > So...I wouldn't be shocked if some smoke while on Xolair.

> > Wise? Probably not. Smokey treats were never my vice of

> > choice. I don't understand it, but I do know that the Nic

> > Monkey is one mean beast.

> >

> > Nan-->nebbing as I type...ohhhh...multi-tasking!

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ****Ordinary life is pretty complex stuff***

> > -=Harvey Pekar=-

> >

> >

> >

> >

> __________________________________________________________

> ______________

> > Never Miss an Email

> > Stay connected with on your mobile. Get started!

> > http://mobile./services?promote=mail

> >

>

> ---------------------------------

> Have a burning question? Go to Answers and get answers from

> real people who know.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I am referring to urban traffic induced pollution but I think we should keep

track of things like the incinerator too. Do you live in an urban area?

Currier <redsoxkitten@...> wrote:

I live less than three miles from a waste reduction facility. In other

words, a really giant trash incinerator. They say it's safe... but you can

t prove it by me.

-------Original Message-------

From: jane mosher

Date: 02/04/07 13:12:59

Subject: [ ] The smoking issue associated with air pollution

In light of the recent news that women are who live in polluted areas are

more likely to have heart attacks and it has always been known that living

in polluted areas is the equivalent of smoking a certain number of packs a

day, I wonder if this is not the issue. I wonder how many of us live in

polluted cities. JAM

[Guest guest]

In all technicality it's suburban. I live about an hour north of Boston,

MA. In my opinion, it's not far enough away from the urban induced traffic

pollution, and I'm also less than three miles from a major

highway/interstate. The incinerator I'm speaking of handles trash

collection and disposal for SEVERAL surrounding communities. I wish I had

more specifics to give you, such as how many people live in my city, etc. I

would not consider my city to be small, or an actual " suburb " the way most

people think of them. In my mind, we're far more urban.... and of course,

when you factor in neighboring cities, and the highways, I would definitely

classify my living area as air polluted.

-------Original Message-------

From: jane mosher

Date: 02/04/07 18:55:23

Subject: Re: [ ] The smoking issue associated with air pollution

I am referring to urban traffic induced pollution but I think we should keep

track of things like the incinerator too. Do you live in an urban area?

Currier <redsoxkitten@...> wrote:

I live less than three miles from a waste reduction facility. In

other

words, a really giant trash incinerator. They say it's safe... but you

can

t prove it by me.

[Guest guest]

I live in the Phoenix area although out on the fringes. The entire metro

area is a big valley and we know that air travels through valleys just like

water seeks the lowest channels. There is an air flow (and water flow) here

of east/northeast to south/southwest based on the terrain.

This past weekend I spent at a lower location in an agricultural area of the

Valley. As I drove in each morning at dawn, I could see the water mist

hanging over the fields (something not usually seen in the desert/developed

areas) and above that, the layer of yellow/brown smog with Sunday being

worse visually than Saturday. I was outdoors all day each day (horse show)

and my asthma was definitely worse on Sunday which I'm sure is a reflection

of what I saw in the air. This facility had pea gravel and was well

watered so the amount of dust on the grounds (kicked up from horses,

people, vehicles) was much less than other grounds I've been on.

We have really far visibility here, up to 50 miles vs places back east or in

the Midwest where you're lucky if you can see a mile. That along with the

elevation changes means we can actually see it. But our state pollution

reporting system also has monitors all over the Valley and the highest

pollution doesn't always seem to be in the lowest locations. Our paper runs

stats from all the " smog dogs " (recording stations). I'm not sure exactly

what affects the why and how of the highest readings but there are definite

trends in certain areas. Some are higher in carbon monoxide, others in

particulates and others in ozone. Gratefully our home is not in one of the

worse places for any of the elements.

I am sure most locations near large cities have similar recording stations

so anyone who's interested in their own area might start by inquiring with

the State department responsible for monitoring air quality. This part of AZ

has had some very bad readings (mostly due to particulates - not enough

rainfall in the desert to keep the dust down coupled with particulates from

vehicles) and also ozone in the summer due to our climate (summer inversion

keeps the ozone locked in). Consequently the state has had to be very

aggressive with monitoring and mandating changes to try to improve air

quality or risk losing federal highway funding. A side benefit of all that

is that the public gets more data about the air quality.