Welcome  to  the  Public  Health  moment from  the  University  of  Minnesota. Minnesota  this  year  will  consider legislation  that  would  ban  smoking  in  the  workplace. Why  should  the  public  care? We  asked  Harry  Lando, a  cancer  epidemiologist  at  the  University  of  Minnesota. It  is  a  serious  public  health  issue. There  is  no  safe  dose. Passive  smoking,  or  secondhand  smoke  is  very  dangerous. There  are  many,  many  toxic  chemicals  given off  by  the  burning  cigarette, including  radioactive,  polonium. And  because  there  is  no  safe  dose, it  is  essential  to  really  avoid  exposure  for people  who  are  in  the  workplace have  more  prolonged  exposure. It  becomes  a  more  serious  issue despite  concerns  from  some  bar  owners. Lando  says  the  evidence  shows  that a  smoking  ban  does  not  harm  businesses  in  the  long  run. There  may  be  individual  bar  owners  who  are  hurt, but  in  general,  including  in Ireland,  including  in  California, including  in  many  other  places  in  the  United  States, When  this  legislation  has  passed, there  has  not  been  a  reduction  in  business. People  talk  about  the  right to  one's  own  business  or  what  have  you, but  when  you  have  a  restaurant, there  still  are  health  standards. There's  still  food  inspection we're  talking  about  is  that  are  in  the  air. Tuesday,  January  30  is  smoke  free. Minnesota  day  at  the  State  Capitol. For  more  information,  go  to  the  website, www.smokefreeminnesota.com With  another  public  health  moment,  I'm  John  Finnegan.