Passive smoking impacts significantly on the 20 per cent of the population with asthma as well as causing heart disease and lung cancer, a leading respiratory physician has warned.
Prof Luke Clancy, chairman of ASH Ireland and consultant respiratory physician at St James's Hospital in Dublin, told a public meeting yesterday in support of the smoking workplace ban - it was attended by over 60 senators and TDs - that environmental tobacco smoke kills.
"It increases the risk of lung cancer in co-workers by 30 per cent, and is linked to other cancers such as leukaemia. It also increases the risk of heart disease in co-workers by 25-30 per cent."
Dr Patrick Manning, medical advisor to the Asthma Society, said: "Environmental tobacco smoke causes chronic pulmonary disease. One-third of acute adult medical admissions to hospital in the winter months are due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with major social, health and economic costs."
The Irish Cancer Society said passive smoking could increase the risk of stroke by 82 per cent.
"This legislation is about the rights of those working in the bar and hospitality industry who have the same rights as all other employees - a right to a safe, clean and healthy work environment," Ms Norma Cronin, anti-tobacco consultant with the society, told The Irish Times.
According to the Irish Sudden Infant Death Association, if Irish mothers reduced their smoking to 10 or less cigarettes per day, they would almost halve the risk of cot deaths.
The National Heart Alliance said there was no argument for designated smoking areas. "The only viable option is a total ban on smoking," said Ms Maureen Mulvihill, of the alliance.