Smoking indoor 'can have long-lasting effects'

The long-lasting dangers of smoking indoors on other people's health have been stressed by one industry expert, in a bid to raise awareness of this issue.

According to ASH, a campaigning public health charity working for a comprehensive societal response to tobacco aimed at achieving a sharp reduction and eventual elimination of the health problems caused by tobacco, cigaratte smoke can cling to furnishings.

The organisation's comment follow a study by the Centre for Child and Adolescent Health Policy (CCAHP) published in the American journal 'Pediatrics' in December 2008.

The research revealed that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke, third-hand smoke is residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after the cigarette is extinguished and these toxins take the form of particulate matter deposited in a layer onto every surface within the home (drapes, hair, carpets).

Furthermore, 95.4 per cent of non-smokers versus 84.1 per cent of smokers agreed that second-hand smoke harms the health of children, while 65.2 per cent of non-smokers versus 43.3 per cent of smokers agreed that third-hand smoke harms children.

Strict rules prohibiting smoking in the home were more prevalent among non-smokers: 88.4 per cent versus 26.7 per cent and ephasizing that third-hand smoke harms the health of children may be an important element in encouraging home smoking bans.

Amanda Sandford, research manager at ASH, said: "If adults smoke indoors, then the residue clings to furnishing and carpets, and children, particularly toddlers, are at risk because they are more likely to get close contact.

"They are more likely to pick these toxins than the adults are."

In November 2007, the Nuffield Council on Bioethics published its report "Public health: The ethical issues", In November 2007, which has shown that the general ethical and scientific arguments that apply to banning smoking in enclosed public spaces also apply to banning smoking in homes (and other places) where children are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke.

However, this would be extremely difficult to enforce without significantly compromising privacy, and a ban on smoking in the home would therefore be disproportionate and ineffective.

It recommended that the Department for Children, Schools and Families should communicate to local authority children's services that there may be exceptional cases where children, for example those with a serious respiratory condition, would be at risk of such a substantial level of harm from passive smoking that intervention may become necessary.

Ms Sandford concluded of the recent findings: "It is another call for action to remind people of the danger of smoking indoors, […] and it will help people understand the need to smoke outdoor."