Secondhand smoke & smokefree policies
Secondhand smoke & smokefree policies
Overview
Evidence of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke (
In response to these health risks and growing public demand for smokefree public places, many nations have passed laws to minimise citizens’ exposure to secondhand smoke.
Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control requires nations that have ratified the treaty to implement effective measures to protect people from secondhand smoke.
Guidelines on implementing Article 8 were adopted unanimously in 2007. These outline the requirement that countries should adopt comprehensive smokefree laws without exemptions or ventilation systems in all enclosed public places and workplaces.
ASH Smokefree webpage
Arnott D et al. Comprehensive smoke-free legislation in England: how advocacy won the day Tobacco Control, Dec 2007; 16: 423 - 428 (pdf file)
Current Key Texts
Royal College of Physicians (2010) Passive smoking and children
Global Smokefree Partnership (2009) Status Report on Article 8 of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
British Medical Association (2007) Breaking the cycle of children’s exposure to tobacco smoke. London: BMA Board of Science
US Surgeon General (2006) The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. Atlanta: U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Royal College of Physicians (2005) Going smoke-free. The medical case for clean air in the home, at work and in public places. A report on passive smoking by the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians. London: Royal College of Physicians (pdf file)
International Agency for Research on Cancer (2004) Tobacco smoke and involuntary smoking. IARC Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. Vol 83. Lyon: IARC
Scientific Committee on Tobacco and health (SCOTH) (2004) Secondhand smoke: Review of evidence since 1998. London: Department of Health
Other Seminal Texts
Scientific Committee on Tobacco and health (SCOTH) (1998) Secondhand smoke. London: Department of Health.
Law MR et al. (1997) Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and ischaemic heart disease: an evaluation of the evidence. BMJ 315: 973-80
Hackshaw AK et al (1997) The accumulated evidence on lung cancer and environmental tobacco smoke. BMJ 315: 980-88
US Environmental Protection Agency (1992) Respiratory health effects of passive smoking. EPA/600/6-90/006F Washington: USEPA
Useful websites
Smokefree England
UK Government site with information about the 2007 smokefree legislation in England.
Smokefree Action Coalition
Site of an alliance of UK NGOs, with detailed background briefings on the English smokefree legislation.
Global Smokefree Partnership
Site of an international alliance of NGOs representing 80+ countries, with background information and regular updates on the progress towards smokefree legislation worldwide.
US Centers for Disease Control Secondhand Smoke site
US Federal Government website with links to major American reports on secondhand smoke.
Further information
England’s Chief Medical Officer has published information about secondhand smoke in his 2002 and 2003 reports. His 2006 annual report, (published July 2007) includes an overview of the implementation of the English law.
During the campaign for smokefree workplaces in England, several opinion polls were conducted to show the shift in public support for smokefree measures. Examples of these can be found on the SmokeFree Action Coalition website. Click on ‘Evidence’.
Changes in public opinion can also be traced through the annual Smoking-related Behaviour and Attitudes surveys conducted by the Department of Health
In 2007, the European Commission issued a consultation paper (pdf file) about smokefree policies in the EU. A summary of responses can be found here (pdf file). In November 2009 the European Commission issued a Recommendation calling on Member States to adopt and implement laws to protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed public places, workplaces and public transport. It also calls for the enhancement of smoke-free laws with supporting measures such as protecting children, encouraging efforts to quit smoking, and having pictorial warnings on cigarette packages.
