Comments of the Week: Asthma, Tattoos

Asthma rates and tattoos (again) made headlines this week. Patch readers responded to these news stories in comments:

Asthma Report

The that the number of Americans diagnosed with asthma has increased by 4.3 million over the recent decade. May has been named asthma awareness month.

"Despite the fact that outdoor air quality has improved, we've reduced two common asthma triggers—secondhand smoke and smoking in general—asthma is increasing," said Paul Garbe, chief of CDC's Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, in a statement. "While we don't know the cause of the increase, our top priority is getting people to manage their symptoms better."

One Patch reader responded to Garbe's statement:

• Sure because they are too busy using bogus data to blame everything on smoking to deal with the real causes like Industrial pollution. Today's science serves money and the whole second hand smoke BS is a diversion created to allow politicians to avoid attacking the source of both campaign contributions and pollution—Industry. Note, I'm not saying smoking isn't bad for people, but I am claiming that the second hand smoke furor is overblown and based on flawed data specifically manipulated to allow concentration on the individual smoker and away from the Corporate Industrial source of chemical pollution.— wrote . 

Tattoo Policy

The to the Hermosa Beach City Council that a ban on body piercing, 9 p.m. closing time for tattoo studios, and buffer zones around parks and schools be included in the city's ordinance.

One Patch reader commented on these tighter restrictions for tattoo businesses:

• This is a joke, right? I am more worried about churches near schools and neighborhoods due to all the priests molesting kids. Is Hermosa totally against business and tax revenue now? Is that why there are so many empty store fronts in town? — wrote .

Coming up: Check Patch on Sundays for our weekly roundup of the latest Hermosa Beach headlines in the Week in Review.