Second Hand Smoking or Passive Smoking

10% of tobacco-related deaths are caused by passive smoking or second-hand smoking
Second-hand smoke has no known safe level of exposure
Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and of these, 69 are known to cause cancer
India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers
Since 2009, approximately 900,000 people die every year in India due to smoking

March 9^th 2016 happens to be ‘No Smoking Day.’ It is a lesser known day as the focus during this month of March is more towards the World Women's Day and World Kidney Day. However, passive smoking or second-hand smoking is an issue that concerns us all.

Passive smoking is harmful to health and even though the populace is aware about the hazardous effects of smoking, there is a dire need for awareness about passive smoking. It is estimated that 10% of tobacco-related deaths are caused by passive smoking. It causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer in adults. In infants, passive smoking can lead to sudden death while in pregnant women, it causes low birth weight. Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), children accounted for 28% of the deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.

‘Passive Smoking’ or ‘Secondhand Smoke’ Equally Dangerous as Smoking
Many smokers who try to quit smoking are unable to do so because they choose passive smoking as an alternative to avoid direct smoking.

‘The risk of lung cancer in non-smokers exposed to passive smoking is 30% and the risk of heart disease is 23%.’

Tweet it Now

Passive smoking is defined as involuntary inhaling of smoke from other people's cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Children are more susceptible to the harmful effects of passive smoking than adults and it makes them prone to asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia. Research has shown that the smoke that emanates from the end of a cigarette (called sidestream smoke) may be more toxic than the mainstream smoke that a smoker inhales.

Dr. PM Bhujang, President, Association of Hospital said, “India is home to 12% of the world’s smokers. Since 2009, approximately 900,000 people die every year in India due to smoking. As of 2015, the number of men smoking tobacco globally rose to 108 million, an increase of 36% between 1998 and 2015. With the number of active smokers increasing day by day, the threat of passive smoking is also rapidly increasing. Indians need to wake up to the risk of cardiovascular diseases which have a devastating impact on the health, growth and development of the country.”

Further commenting Dr. PM Bhujang said, “Other than passive smoking, increasing smoke in the air is also affecting the health of the people drastically. To control this inhalation of polluted air, one should avoid smoking zones; try to avoid breathing near factories producing harmful gasses. A person should be aware about the environment where he breaths the air and should take appropriate measure to control the same.”

Passive Smoking in Childhood Or Teenage Increases COPD Risk Later In Life
Suboptimal development of lung function in childhood and adolescence is a major determinant of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk in older age.

How to Reduce the Risk of Passive Smoking?

If exposure to second-hand smoke cannot be prevented, there are some precautions that can protect the health of the people who are exposed and the suggestions include:

Request those who smoke in your house to smoke their cigarettes outdoors
No smoking should be allowed in cars even with the windows open
Make sure children are moved away from any site where there are smokers
Visit restaurants that enforce no-smoking policies
Encourage your loved ones to quit smoking

Health Risks of Passive Smoking on Pregnant Women and Unborn Babies

Tobacco Products Are Missing New Pictorial Warnings Approved By The Government
A survey said that no tobacco products in the national capital carried the new warning even though the government-approved new pictorial warnings on tobacco packets.

Passive smoking can seriously impair the health of the unborn fetus. In some countries, almost 10% of women who are pregnant smoke and in many situations, mothers are exposed to partners who smoke. If a mother is exposed to second-hand smoke, she is more likely to give birth to a premature baby of lower birth weight. Dangers to mother and fetus include:

Increased risk of complications during childbirth
Miscarriage and stillbirth
Premature birth and low birth weight
Newborns who are exposed to smoke are more prone to die from a condition called sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Law Against Smoking in Public Places

Many countries ban people from smoking in public places and impose fines. Most governments impose high excise duties on tobacco. In India, smoking in public places was banned from October 2^nd 2008 under the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Rules, and The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products 2003 (COTPA). The ban was notified by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Smoking is restricted to open spaces visited by the public such as hospitals, auditoriums, cinemas, public transports and their related facilities, restaurants, hotels, amusement centers, offices, libraries, courts, shopping malls, and educational institutions. However, public places do not include roads, parking spaces, open market places and parks. The law imposes a fine of Rs.200 for a person caught smoking in public places.

Outrage Over Delay in Implementation of Pictorial Warnings on Tobacco Products
As per an earlier GOI notification, the new pictorial health warnings that were to be implemented from 1 June 2010, have been further delayed till 1 December 2010.

Smoking is permitted in airports, restaurants, bars, pubs, and some enclosed public workplaces if separate smoking areas are provided. The law also prohibits the sale of tobacco products within 100 yards of educational institutions. In 2007, Chandigarh became the first smoke-free city in India. The Cable Television Network (Regulation) Amendment Bill banned direct and indirect advertisements of all tobacco products on 8 September 2000. Rules mandating pictorial health warnings on all tobacco products came in to force on May 31^st 2009.

Currently, the minimum age for buying tobacco products is 18 years. Union Health Minister, JP Nadda proposed COPTA Bill 2015, to raise the age of a person buying tobacco products to 21 years. Nadda also proposed to raise the fine for smoking in public places to Rs 1,000 from Rs 200.

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2009 showed that 14.6% of students aged 13 to 15 years are using tobacco in India. The survey also found that 11% of boys were users of smoking and smokeless tobacco. While 6% girls used smokeless tobacco and 3.7% smoked tobacco. It is estimated that tobacco will be the main cause of 13% of deaths in India by 2020.

The COTPA Bill, 2015, states that the sale of loose tobacco products makes minors susceptible to tobacco use and promotes tobacco sale. Therefore, the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products loose and in single sticks is proposed.

The public health consequences of passive smoking are high due to the large numbers of people exposed. Quitting smoking is the route to better health and it's also good for others as well.

Reference:

http://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/country/India/summary

Source-Medindia

Second Hand Smoking or Passive Smoking – A Killer Too!