1 . It is well known that smoking is harmful to health. It is unfortunate that despite some individuals who choose not to smoke, they remain to be victims of various diseases caused by cigarette smoking.

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of dangerous chemicals that are unhealthy for both smokers and non-smokers. Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed by smokers. More than 126 million Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home, at work, and in enclosed public spaces.

The Deadly Effects

Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease and lung cancer in non-smoking adults. Breathing secondhand smoke for even a short time increases risk for those diseases.

Children and infants are especially attacked by the poisons in secondhand smoke. Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of six breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.

Secondhand smoke is a known cause of the sudden infant death syndrome, breathing problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children.

Secondhand smoke in the home environment can slow the lung growth of exposed children. Older children whose parents smoke get bronchitis and pneumonia more often than the children of non-smokers. Wheezing (气喘) and coughing are also more common in children who breathe secondhand smoke.

Protecting Yourself and Others

The only way to fully protect yourself and loved ones from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is through 100 percent smoke-free environments. Opening a window; sitting in a separate area; or using ventilation (通风), air conditioning, or a fan cannot get rid of secondhand smoke exposure. If you are a smoker, the single best way to protect your family is to quit smoking.

3 . What would you like to drink? It’s likely the first thing your server will ask when you sit down for a restaurant meal. Whether you ask for it or not, a glass of water usually comes with lemon slices. But be warned: despite all the health benefits of lemon water, you might want to tell your server to leave a lemon slices out.

A 2007 study in the Journal of Environmental Health tested 76 lemons from 21 restaurants for germs(细菌)and had some pretty frightening findings. Nearly 70 percent of the lemon slices had germs. Even though lemon is a natural germ-killer, it can still be polluted by germs. Another ABC research testing one lemon at 10 different restaurants found that half the lemon slices had human waste.

Lemon slices are more likely to have germs than the food you order on a plate because restaurant health standards are likely to be less strict for garnishes(装饰菜). The ABC research noticed that restaurant workers often cut lemons without gloves. If they didn’t scrub their hands completely after using the bathroom, there was a good chance that they could leave the germs on the lemon slices in your drink.

But before you start giving servers an angry look when you see them carrying lemon water, you should know that the garnish won’t necessarily make you sick. The authors of the 2007 study admitted there haven’t been any diseases linked to lemons. And expert Philip Tierno, leader of the ABC research, said, “Your immune system(免疫系统)will usually protect you from getting sick from lemon water.” “The usual course will probably result in no disease, but there is a possibility,” DrTierno said. “You can’t live in a bubble. Your immune system is usually pretty good.”

Still, if you’re concerned, just request your server to bring your water with no lemon slices. Don’t skip the lemon water at home though, because drinking lemon water has huge health benefits. Just make sure to wash the lemon before putting it in your glass.