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Passive
smoking - there’s nothing passive about it
Today the Health Promotion Agency (HPA) launched
a hard hitting public information campaign tackling the
subject
of passive smoking. This is the first time in Northern Ireland
the issue of passive smoking has been raised in an advertising
campaign which aims to send out the clear message that there
really is nothing passive about it – passive smoking
is harmful to health.
Passive smoking is exposure to ‘sidestream smoke’ released
from the burning tip of a cigarette and ‘mainstream
smoke’ - smoke inhaled then exhaled by a smoker. Other
terms used to describe passive smoking include involuntary
smoking, second-hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke.
Speaking at the launch, Dr Brian Gaffney,
Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “For years research has shown that
exposure to second-hand smoke not only worsens existing health
problems but also directly harms health. For instance, passive
smoking can increase your risk of lung cancer by 20 – 30%,
heart disease by 25 – 35%, and stroke by 80%. The air
in a room where people are smoking contains around 4000 chemicals,
some of which are known to cause cancer, so the facts are
clear – passive smoking is deadly serious.”
The public information campaign comprises two television
advertisements accompanied by a leaflet and a poster. The
first advertisement focuses on smoking in the home and
how this can affect the most vulnerable – children.
The advertisement points out that parents will try to do
all they can to protect their children yet many are totally
unaware of the damage second-hand smoke can do. 85% of
second-hand smoke is odourless and invisible but it can
still cause damage.
Passive smoking has a major impact on children’s health.
Research shows 17,000 children under the age of five are
admitted to hospital each year with illnesses that are a
direct result of passive smoking¹.
In the UK alone between 1,600 and 5,400 new
cases of asthma occur each year due to parental smoking². Young children’s
bronchial tubes are smaller making them breathe faster than
adults and as a result take in more harmful chemicals that
an adult would in the same amount of time. Babies and young
children spend a lot of their time at home or indoors and
cannot speak out so have little choice as to whether they
want to be in a smoky room or not.
The second advertisement shows two young
men in a public place chatting. One suddenly starts coughing
nastily over
the other, it looks very unpleasant and unhealthy. The cough
then transforms into cigarette smoke and the friend is surrounded
by it. The ad questions why you would let someone breathe
smoke over you when you wouldn’t put up with them coughing
and spluttering in your face.
Dr Gaffney added: “Recent research
for Government concluded there is no doubt at all that
passive smoking significantly
increases the risk of serious illness and states that no
infant, child or adult should be exposed to it. This campaign
will raise awareness about the dangers of passive smoking
to everyone. We are encouraging smokers not to expose others
to the damaging health effects of their habit and non-smokers
to be less accommodating about it. As with all our smoke-free
information we hope it increases the number of smokers likely
to make a quit attempt and supports ex-smokers who want to
stay that way.”
The advertising will be broadcast for one month while leaflets
and posters have been distributed to GP practices, pharmacies,
dental practices and Social Security Offices throughout
Northern Ireland. All campaign materials include information
on the Smokers' Helpline: 0800 85 85 85 this is a free
service which provides support, information and advice
on how to stop smoking.
END
Notes to the editor
The launch will take place at the HPA on Tuesday 9 November
at 11:00am. A media facility will be provided from 11:30am
when Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive, will be available
for interview.
The HPA was commissioned
by the DHSSPS to develop and implement the campaign. It
will contribute to achieving the objectives
set out in the Tobacco Action Plan 2003 – 2008.
- Smoking
and the Young. Royal College of Physicians. 1992.
- ASH briefing
on passive smoking. ASH, 2000
For further information contact Jenny Dougan on 028 9031
1611/ 07802 299945.
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