Health Risk to Kids from Second-hand Smoke in Cars

Nearly 25% of Kiwi youngsters are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars and this has prompted calls for a smoking ban in cars in New Zealand.

Nearly 25% of Kiwi youngsters are exposed to second-hand smoke in cars and this has prompted calls for a smoking ban in cars in New Zealand. Annually, about 350 people die in New Zealand due to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Public health professor Richard Edwards from The Otago University conducted a study to find that 23 per cent of 14 and 15-year-olds were victims of second-hand smoke in vehicles during a given week.

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"Kids exposed to second-hand smoke are at higher risk of various diseases," he said.

Second-hand smoke in cars could expose kids to a whole lot of diseases like pneumonia and chest infections. The risk of asthma attacks is also high for such kids.

Prof Edwards said, "Moreover, in-vehicle second-hand smoke exposure is consistently and significantly associated with susceptibility to initiation and more frequent smoking.''

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He also warned tobacco addicts to avoid smoking while the windows were down as this is also harmful to children in the car.

This research supports a ban on smoking in cars.

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Source-Medindia