Smoking should be banned in public places. Studies show that smoking can lead to cancer. This not only puts the life of the smoker at risk, but also affects the lives of non-smokers, including pregnant women. Smoking all together is a dangerous thing to do. It all began thousands of years ago with the use of tobacco in South America (Libal 11). No one knew the long-term health effects of tobacco smoking before the 20th century. It took decades of cigarette use before society began to realize that a health crisis was emerging (Libal 13). The health crisis that was emerging was cancer, among other diseases such as heart disease, bronchitis and lung cancer. Cigarettes contain many harmful substances that contribute to the formation of cancer in the human body. Some of these substances are nicotine, black tar and carbon monoxide. Nicotine is the drug that helps the body become addicted. The black tar sticks to the lining of the lungs and makes breathing difficult. Carbon monoxide and other chemicals help poison the lungs (Keyishian, 14). When black tar sticks to the lining of the lungs. While it makes breathing more difficult for the smoker, it also makes the heart work harder than it normally should. Carbon monoxide prevents oxygen from reaching the heart. This could cause heart disease. Smoking is also very harmful to the heart. There is a chemical in tobacco smoke that can narrow the veins of the heart, increasing the chance of a heart attack (Libal 28). Smokers don't realize that many parts of the body work together such as the lungs, heart and blood vessels. When smokers smoke, the body inhales nicotine and carbon monoxide. Nicotine and carbon monoxide make blood vessels smaller than usual. ...... middle of paper ...... employees and others in public places is of extreme importance. Some people may argue that banning smoking in public is not a good idea. There are many facts that prove why smoking should be banned. Smokers might even argue that they have the right to smoke in public places, which might be true. By smoking in public, smokers do not realize how much they put another person's life in danger. There are several reasons why smoking should be banned. Smokers fail to see that banning smoking could be very beneficial for them too. When considering banning smoking in public places, smokers should think about all the lives they could help save. Smoking should be banned in public places because smoking causes cancer, puts the lives of US citizens who choose not to smoke at risk, and could even endanger the health of a pregnant woman.