Study reveals hazard of passive smoking

ASH IRELAND and the Irish Cancer Society have welcomed a new study by the Word Health Organisation (WHO) highlighting the dangers of passive smoking.

The Lancet found passive smoke kills more than 600,000 people annually around the world, an estimated 1 per cent of all deaths.

Based on 2004 data for 192 countries, the study is the first to assess the global impact of passive smoking.

Nearly half of all these deaths occurred in women (47 per cent) with children accounting for 28 per cent and men 26 per cent.

Chairman of Ash Ireland Dr Brian Maurer said the research confirmed the “immensely harmful” effects of passive smoke. “Passive smoke kills people on a vast scale and this current study shows that children are especially affected.” He called for the introduction of a smoking ban in cars transporting children under 16.

Irish Cancer Society spokeswoman Jane Curtin said every year in Ireland 6,000 people die as a “direct result of both passive and active smoking”.

The findings are available on www.lancet.com