’Blame lies in chemicals used’

Dedegil, who recently quit smoking, argued that the health risks associated with smoking are caused by chemicals such as acetone, pitch, pesticides and naphthalene. "Why do they put these chemicals in cigarettes? They add them so that they don’t get maggots and bugs. If we were to ask a producer why he adds these chemicals, he would say, ’To increase its shelf life.’ Don’t add them. If you don’t, they won’t be as harmful as they are. Let their shelf life be short," Dedegil told reporters in Parliament yesterday. Dedegil emphasized that if she had enough money, she would open an organic cigarette factory herself.

She also said that if non-smokers are to be protected, the solution is not to ban smoking everywhere. But she added, "Smoking is harmful, but it is possible to make it less harmful. Smoking shouldn’t be allowed indoors." Dedegil emphasized that her proposals are not aimed to lift the upcoming ban.