Researchers at Edinburgh University suggest that the smoking ban imposed in public places has cut down premature births and severe childhood asthma attacks by as much as 10 percent.

The researchers analyzed more than 2.5 million births and around 250,000 hospital attendances for asthma attacks in children under 12 years old and found that following smoking bans, the number of children being born very small for their age declined by five percent while pre-term birth and severe asthma attacks also reduced by over a tenth.

"Our study provides clear evidence that smoking bans have considerable public health benefits for perinatal and child health, and provides strong support for WHO recommendations to create smoke-free public environments on a national level. These findings should help to accelerate the introduction of anti-smoking legislation in areas not currently protected", lead researcher Dr Jasper Been said.