Passive Smoking At Home More Serious Than Outside, House Of Lords

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Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Also Included In: Respiratory / Asthma
Article Date: 07 Jun 2006 - 9:00 PDT


A House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee says banning smoking in public places is not justified as evidence shows the greatest risk is in the home, while the health risk in public places is very small.

In February, 2006, British MPs (Members of Parliament - Lawmakers) voted to ban smoking in all private members' clubs and all pubs and restaurants throughout England.

The Committee report said more attention should be paid to the implications to personal liberty with this new legislation. If the aim is to protect public health, and the great risk lies in the home for passive smoking - there is a problem of clarity regarding the aims of the smoking ban, said the report.

According to scientific evidence, said the report, passive smoking in public places is a relatively minor problem. It suggests more attention should have been paid to the scientific evidence. The Committee regards the response by lawmakers (MPs) as disproportionate to the problem.

Lord Wakeham, Committee Chairman, said "We are also concerned that the government does not pay enough attention to the cumulative impact of legislation on personal freedom and choice."

According to ASH (Action on Smoking and Health), a UK charity, 600 people die each year in the workplace in the UK as a result of passive smoking.

Ms. Arnott, from ASH, said that just because more people are exposed to passive smoke in the home than in public places does not mean people should not be protected in public places and the workplace. She also suggested that banning smoking in public places could lead to a fall in smoking in general, which in turn would lead to less passive smoking in the home.

Pro-smoking lobby groups in the UK say that the evidence showing a health risk from passive smoking is not compelling.

About 74% of England's adult population are non-smokers.

(Passive smoking = Breathing in second hand smoke)

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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