Tobacco smoke is a major source of respiratory irritants and many people are passively exposed at home or in the workplace. Passive smoking is widespread, and environmental tobacco smoke contains many potent respiratory irritants. Passive smoking is also associated with respiratory symptoms and asthma.
Tobacco smoke is a major source of respiratory irritants and many people are passively exposed at home or in the workplace. Passive smoking is widespread, and environmental tobacco smoke contains many potent respiratory irritants. Passive smoking is also associated with respiratory symptoms and asthma.
Research was done to assess the effect of passive smoking on the respiratory health of adults from 36 centres in 16 European countries, collected as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. 7882 adults who had never smoked formed the study group. This study aimed to estimate the effect of passive smoking on respiratory symptoms, bronchial reactivity and lung function.
In 12 of the 36 centres, more than half the participants were regularly involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke. The prevalence of passive smoking in the workplace varied from 2·5% in Uppsala, Sweden, to 53·8% in Galdakao, Spain. Passive smoking was significantly associated with chest tightness at night, breathlessness at night, breathlessness on exertion and increased bronchial reactivity. Participants who were exposed to passive smoking showed significantly poorer lung function than those who were not exposed at all.
An individual, who lives with someone who is a smoker but who does not smoke inside the house could, be defined as being involuntarily exposed to tobacco in the household. In children, parental smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms and poorer lung function. Studies have found that passive smoking in adulthood increases the risk and severity of asthma and respiratory symptoms and have indicated that involuntary exposure to tobacco in adults results in significant lung impairment.
Passive smoking is common but the prevalence varies widely between different countries. Decreasing involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke in the community, especially in workplaces, is likely to improve respiratory health.
Research was done to assess the effect of passive smoking on the respiratory health of adults from 36 centres in 16 European countries, collected as part of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. 7882 adults who had never smoked formed the study group. This study aimed to estimate the effect of passive smoking on respiratory symptoms, bronchial reactivity and lung function.
In 12 of the 36 centres, more than half the participants were regularly involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke. The prevalence of passive smoking in the workplace varied from 2·5% in Uppsala, Sweden, to 53·8% in Galdakao, Spain. Passive smoking was significantly associated with chest tightness at night, breathlessness at night, breathlessness on exertion and increased bronchial reactivity. Participants who were exposed to passive smoking showed significantly poorer lung function than those who were not exposed at all.
An individual, who lives with someone who is a smoker but who does not smoke inside the house could, be defined as being involuntarily exposed to tobacco in the household. In children, parental smoking is associated with respiratory symptoms and poorer lung function. Studies have found that passive smoking in adulthood increases the risk and severity of asthma and respiratory symptoms and have indicated that involuntary exposure to tobacco in adults results in significant lung impairment.
Passive smoking is common but the prevalence varies widely between different countries. Decreasing involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke in the community, especially in workplaces, is likely to improve respiratory health.
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