[C-U Smokefree] Secondhand smoke exposure risks to infants and children

[Theotskl at aol.com]

Hi all--

FYI.

This one from the UK on the political interference to hide and stifle the 
flow of scientific knowledge to the public on the toxic impacts of secondhand 
smoke exposure on infants and children.

Keep up the great work!

Cheers.

Dr. Theo Tsoukalas

12:14pm (UK)
Leaked Reports Confirms Passive Smoking Risks 

By Lyndsay Moss, Health Correspondent, PA News 
No infant, child or adult should be exposed to passive smoking because of the 
hazards to health, a leaked report revealed today.

The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (Scoth) report to Government 
confirms that second-hand smoke significantly increases the risk of lung cancer 
and heart disease.

The pro-smoking lobby and the tobacco industry have disputed claims that 
passive smoking is a significant danger to non-smokers.

But the leaked report by some of Britain's top medical scientists, first 
published in London's Evening Standard, concluded that "second-hand smoke 
represents a substantial public health hazard".

Campaigners Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) said that the Scoth report had 
been handed to the Government four months ago, but Health Secretary John Reid 
has yet to make the findings public.

Ministers are preparing to publish their long-awaited Public Health White 
Paper next month which is expected to include measures to limit smoking in public 
places but stop short of a total ban, covering all restaurants and pubs.

Campaigners say the majority of the public back a public smoking ban, as 
introduced in the Irish Republic, and accuse the Government of inaction over the 
issue.

The Scoth report reveals that there is 24% increased risk of lung cancer for 
non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke, confirming previous 
findings.

The experts said that the weight of evidence for the risk of heart disease 
among passive smokers was now stronger than their last report in 1998 - with 
around a 25% increased danger.

They said that children were at particular risk from second-hand smoke.

"Children are at greatest risk in their homes and the evidence strongly links 
second-hand smoke with an increased risk of pneumonia and bronchitis, asthma 
attacks, middle ear disease, decreased lung function and sudden infant death 
syndrome," the report said.

The experts said that overall exposure to second-hand smoke had declined as 
less people were smoking.

"However, some groups, for example bar staff, are heavily exposed at their 
place of work and almost half of all children still live in households with at 
least one smoker," they added.

The committee said that knowledge of the "hazardous nature" of passive 
smoking had been consolidated in the last five years.

They concluded: "This is a controllable and preventable form of indoor air 
pollution.

"It is evident that no infant, child or adult should be exposed to 
second-hand smoke."

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