[Intl-tobacco] UK: Passive smoking risk report "sat on"

[robert weissman]

1. Reuters story on UK report on second hand smoke

2. ASH UK press release

Reuters
Passive smoking risk report "sat on"
Mon 18 October, 2004 15:10

By Patricia Reaney

LONDON (Reuters) - A leading anti-smoking group has accused the
government of sitting on a confidential report which confirms the health
dangers of passive smoking.

ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) said on Monday there is no longer any
excuse to deny the health damage caused by inhaling other people's
cigarette smoke.

"This report show that Britain's leading medical experts have concluded
that second-hand smoke is a serious risk to public health. It is deeply
worrying that the government has sat on this for months," said ASH
director Deborah Arnott.

The Department of Health denied any delay.

"It is not a cover-up. We are considering the evidence. It is not taking
any longer than any other report would," a spokeswoman for the
department said.

"It is not something we have sat on."

Arnott said the report, which has now been leaked to the Evening
Standard, should have been published in time to inform debate ahead of
expected government proposals to deal with second-hand smoke.

Health experts have urged Britain to follow Ireland's example and ban
smoking in public workplaces, which would include bars, restaurants and
pubs.

According to ASH, the report concludes that "it is evident that no
infant, child or adult should be exposed to second-hand smoke."

It also found there is an increased risk of lung cancer for non-smokers
exposed to second-hand smoke of about 24 percent and a greater
likelihood of developing heart disease.

In children, passive smoking is linked to a raised risk of pneumonia,
bronchitis, asthma, middle ear disease, decreased lung function and
sudden infant death syndrome, ASH added.

The Department of Health spokeswoman said the evidence in the report was
about smoking in the home, not public places.

"It is not about public places, specifically," she added.

But ASH said the findings of the leaked report are further evidence of
the need for a smoking ban. It added that exposure to smoke in both the
home and workplace is causing several thousand premature deaths a year
across the United Kingdom as well as many thousands of illnesses.

Arnott added the report shows "the absurdity" of any exclusions from a
smoking ban. Health Secretary John Reid is reportedly considering
exempting some pubs and clubs where food is not served from a potential ban=
.


------------


ASH news release: Immediate Use, Monday 18th  October 2004

LEAKED GOVERNMENT REPORT SHOWS EXTENT OF HEALTH DAMAGE FROM SECONDHAND SMOK=
E

A confidential report to Government by Britain=92s top medical scientists,
revealed in today=92s Evening Standard, shows the extent of the health
damage caused by breathing in other people=92s cigarette smoke.

The Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH: see
http://www.advisorybodies.doh.gov.uk/scoth/members.htm for membership)
reported to Government four months ago, although Health Secretary John
Reid has yet to make their findings public. The report updates their
previous work, published in 1998.

The leaked report comes as Health Secretary John Reid is reported to be
considering exempting =93wet-led=94 pubs from a proposed new law ending
smoking in the workplace, even though bar staff are perhaps the single
group of employees most at risk from secondhand smoke. A White Paper on
public health, containing proposals aimed at cutting the health damage
caused by smoking, is expected to be published in November. The SCOTH
report states that =93overall exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke in the
population has declined somewhat as cigarette smoking prevalence has
continued to come down. However, some groups, for example bar staff, are
heavily exposed at their place of work and almost half of all children
still live in households with at least one smoker.=94

The SCOTH report concludes that: =93it is evident that no infant, child or
adult should be exposed to secondhand smoke ... Secondhand smoke
represents a substantial public health hazard=94.

The Executive Summary of the latest report reveals that:

=B7        There is an increased risk of lung cancer for non-smokers
exposed to secondhand smoke of about 24%, confirming the findings of the
previous report.

=B7        There is an increased risk of ischaemic heart disease for
non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke, and =93the weight of evidence now
is stronger than at the time of the [1998] SCOTH report. The increased
risk associated with exposure to secondhand smoke is in the order of 25%=94=
.

=B7        Children are at particular risk from secondhand smoke - =93the
evidence strongly links secondhand smoke with an increased risk of
pneumonia and bronchitis, asthma attacks, middle ear disease, decreased
lung function and sudden infant death syndrome. It has also been shown
that babies born to mothers who come into contact with secondhand smoke
have lower birth weights=94.

=B7        =93The evidence published since1998 points to an association
between secondhand smoke and respiratory symptoms and reduced lung
functions in adults=94. A major study in Finland has provided strong
evidence that =93adult onset asthma is significantly increased by recent
exposure to secondhand smoke at work and at home=94.

Action on Smoking and Health warns that the health risks from both
domestic and workplace exposure to secondhand smoke are causing several
thousand premature deaths a year across the United Kingdom, as well as
many thousands of episodes of illness. Professor Konrad Jamrozik of
Imperial College London has estimated for a conference of the Royal
College of Physicians that 700 premature deaths are caused each year in
the UK by exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace
(http://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/news/news.asp?PR_id=3D216).

Deborah Arnott, Director of Action on Smoking and Health, comments:

=93This report shows that Britain=92s leading medical experts have conclude=
d
that secondhand smoke is a serious risk to public health. It is deeply
worrying that the Government has sat on this for months; it should have
been published in good time to inform debate around the public health
White Paper. Remarkably, on TV yesterday, the Secretary of State for
Health was still referring to the =91possible=92 health effects of
secondhand smoke.

The report shows that there is no longer any excuse to deny the health
damage caused by secondhand smoke. It also shows the absurdity of
exempting from any new law the very group of employees most exposed to
risk. November=92s White Paper must follow the Irish model and end smoking
in the workplace once and for all. The clear lesson of the report is
that nothing less will do.=94