Characteristics and consequences of passive smoking

Abstract

The consequences of passive smoking are well documented regarding the risk of lung cancer, obstructive ventilatory trouble, ischemic cardiopathy, infant disease of the respiratory ducts and of foetus growth delay caused by smoking during pregnancy. If the potential risk is much lower than the risk induced by active smoking, very few people can avoid exposure to smoke because of the large amount of active smokers in the French population. Rather than the characteristics of the emitting source and the particularities of smoking (speed and inhalation), it is mostly the ventilation of rooms where non-smokers are exposed to the smoker's smoke that constitutes the significant point. The consequences of environmental smoking on health would justify to take statutory decisions protecting the rights of the smokers. This is in accordance with the resolution passed by the European Community's Council and the Secretaries of Health of the member countries. More precisely, non smoking rules in closed rooms open to the public should be enforced, particularly in schools, hospitals and finally at the workplace.