Secondhand smoke rears its ugly head once again -- this time in the form of study results revealing high levels of secondhand smoke in the workplace can double the risk of lung cancer for non-smokers.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago looked at results from 22 studies conducted in the United States, Canada, Europe, India, Japan, and China. What they found -- and published in the American Journal of Public Health -- is a lung cancer risk 50 percent higher than normal for non-smokers exposed to smoke on the job for more than 30 years. They also found risk increases with level of exposure.

"We believe that our study provides the strongest evidence to date that smoking in the workplace does present a substantial risk to workers -- and particularly to workers who are working in highly exposed areas such as bar workers or restaurant workers," lead researcher Leslie Stayner said.

Previous evidence for increased lung cancer risk caused by secondhand smoke comes from studies of non-smokers married to smokers.

Secondhand smoke -- also known as passive smoke and environmental tobacco smoke -- is smoke from a cigarette, pipe, or cigar as well as smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers and inhaled by non-smokers. It can cause cancer, respiratory problems, and asthma in non-smokers and is leading to increased efforts by communities to ban or limit smoking in the workplace.

This week in France, bans begin in offices, stores, schools, and hospitals. Come January 2008, cafes and restaurants must also comply with bans. For now, smoking in these areas is permitted in hermetically sealed rooms without any services.

As a cancer survivor, cancer is never very far away. But there is more to life than cancer, and on National Cancer Survivor's Day, TELETOON is airing two public service announcements, PSAs, created by Gilda's Club's Noogieland members. While each of the seven children, aged 8 through 12, know cancer, Gilda's Club invited them to join an animation workshop to focus on concerns all kids have, and to help them see beyond their cancer experience. Scheduled to air on National Cancer Survivor's Day, the two PSAs deal with peer pressure and bullying and active living.

The wisdom of Gilda's Club, the National Film Board Mediatheque, and Toronto-based digital animation producer 9 Story Entertainment in taking these children out of the often singular focus cancer can cause, and having them reconnect to the every day issues relevant to them and their peers is profound and healing.

TELETOON is Canada's first and only round the clock animation network broadcasting in English and French. "Since the inception of the animation workshops, TELETOON has partnered with arts organizations, with elementary schools, and with kids clubs to promote the idea that all kids, no matter what their background, have an opinion regarding the issues that affect them," says Len Cochrane, TELETOON President. "We are proud and thankful that Gilda's Club, the NFB Mediatheque and 9 Story supported the founding principle of this community-based initiative, and assisted kids with the tools to better express their ideas and opinions."

Yes. We take our experiences with us but we do not need to become our experiences. Life goes on -- as it should.

Janice R. England has been investigating dumpsites and landfills and cancer clusters for over twenty years. In 1984, she founded People Investigating Toxic Sites, P.I.T.S., to provide information on locations of open and closed dumpsites and landfills, contaminated groundwater, and to investigate illnesses related to contamination of the environment.

P.I.T.S. features an online resource of a state by state list of toxic waste, military ordinance and chemical warfare dumps. According to England, many of these sites are linked to contaminated groundwater, cancer clusters, birth defects and various health problems. She has provided a way for you to find out if you live, work, play or send your children to schools that are on or adjacent to these toxic sites. Visit P.I.T.S. to learn more.

If you live in the Boston area, the Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl has launched a new fundraising program called Scooper Schools, and are inviting schools, youth groups, and other student organizations to plan and run an ice cream fundraiser to benefit cancer care and research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

According to the Jimmy Fund Scooper School program, "No idea is too small. Groups can host an ice cream social, or set up an ice cream booth in the school cafeteria, or dish up an ice cream eating contest. The goal is to help students be creative, build self-confidence, and most importantly, understand the significance of philanthropy." Special incentives for the schools that raise the most money include free admission to the three-day Scooper Bowl at City Hall Plaza. For more information on the event, go to Jimmy Fund Scooper Bowl webpage. The Jimmy Fund comes up with some delightful and fun ideas for fundraising that other communities might want to check out.