Major study underway to assess exposure to second-hand smoke in Northern Ireland
Exposure
to second-hand smoke is a serious health concern and
as a result, a major study starts today in Northern Ireland
to assess how the new smoke-free legislation will impact
on the problem.
Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA), said: “Exposure to second-hand smoke, also known as passive smoking, is a major health concern as it is associated with smoking related illnesses such as lung cancer, heart disease and stroke. The new smoke-free legislation, which comes into effect on 30 April 2007 and restricts smoking in enclosed public places, aims to reduce the level of exposure people have to other people’s tobacco smoke.”
The HPA has commissioned a team of researchers from the Institute of Occupational Medicine in Edinburgh to investigate the impact of the smoking restriction in enclosed public places on residential tobacco smoke levels. The survey will take place during March 2007 via telephone at home or in shopping centres, supermarkets and workplaces throughout Northern Ireland.
Five hundred non-smokers who share a home with at least one smoker will be recruited. Participants
will be asked to complete a confidential questionnaire
on smoking patterns in the home and other areas. It will
also ask questions about minor health problems. In addition,
air nicotine measurements will be carried out in 100 homes.
This
study will be repeated in 12 months time to investigate
whether residential exposure to second-hand smoke has changed
among non-smokers who share a house with smokers. The
study is looking for volunteers so
any non-smokers who live with smokers and are interested
in participating are asked to call
the researchers using the freephone number 0800
023 2993.
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Notes to the editor:
The research has been commissioned by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) and is funded by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.
More
information about smoking, second-hand smoke and the
new legislation, which will come into effect on 30 April,
can be found by visiting www.spacetobreathe.org.uk
For further information contact
Jenny Dougan or Rosie McGaughey on 028 9031 1611.
