There seems to be no middle ground when it comes to cigarette smoke. In the United States and Canada, people have strong opinions over whether or not smoking should be allowed in public. And each side enjoys spewing facts and figures at the other side about how safe/unsafe secondhand smoke can be. At this point in time, nonsmokers seem to have the upper hand. They’ve successfully lobbied to have cigarette smoking banned from most office buildings and many public places, including restaurants. Smokers aren’t going quietly, though. They claim they’re enjoying a perfectly legal product and therefore, should be allowed to indulge in their habit wherever they choose.

Manufacturers say they’ve got the answer to the problem — better ventilation and filtration equipment that can allow smokers and non-smokers to get along just fine. Naturally, this is stirring some debate. Non-smokers say no equipment can totally protect a person from the harmful contaminants in cigarette smoke. Smokers say that the equipment can provide cleaner air than we breathe outside.