SAN DIEGO, (Coal Geology)– The American Lung Association in California released its annual State of Tobacco Control report that issues grades to cities and counties in California on key tobacco control policies, including those for smokefree outdoor environments, smokefree housing, and reducing sales of tobacco products. This year for the first time, the American Lung Association in California graded all 480 incorporated cities and towns, and all 58 counties in the state. In addition to local grades, the State of Tobacco Control 2010 issues grades for the federal government, all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

On the whole, the Bulgarians are skeptic about the efficiency of the recently introduced public cmoking ban in the country. According to the results of the weekly online survey of standartnews.com, 59.1% of the participants share the opinion that the government’s efforts to cut down the number of smokers in the country are in vain, given that cheap contraband cigarettes still sell under the counter. 31.89% of those who took the survey say that the number of smokers in Bulgaria is bound to decrease, quoting the European experience with public smoking bans. About ten percent of the participants in the online survey hope that the Bulgarians will follow the example of PM Boyko Borissov who has cut out the habit of smoking cigars recently.

A FAMILY of three died after a ferocious blaze ripped through their home. Neighbours tried in vain to rescue the family before firefighters arrived. They were named locally as James Robertson, 70, his wife Mary, 73, and their son Paul, who was in his 40s. But despite receiving first aid at the scene they all later died from the effects of severe smoke inhalation.

Smoking damages the body in minutes rather than years. The long term impact of smoking, from heart disease to a range of cancers, is well known. But a new study suggests the damage begins just moments after the first cigarette is smoked.