A recent survey conducted in 12 European countries revealed that seven out of ten homes in Europe are smoke-free, with wide variations seen among different countries. The study, published in ERJ Open Research, found that nearly one in five homes had some smoking rules in place but were not completely smoke-free. Greece ranked the lowest with only 44% of homes being smoke-free, while England ranked the highest with almost 85% of homes being smoke-free.
The survey, conducted by the Tobacco Control Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain, found that smoke-free homes were more common among individuals aged 65 and over, women, those with higher education, and those living with children. Despite the implementation of smoke-free regulations in public spaces since 2004, private areas such as homes continue to be common locations for smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke.
Passive smoking, or secondhand smoke, has been linked to a range of health conditions including lung cancer and heart disease. Pregnant women exposed to passive smoke are at a higher risk of premature birth, while children are more susceptible to breathing problems, asthma, and allergies. The study estimated that approximately 24,000 adult deaths in Europe are linked to passive smoking.
The researchers emphasized the importance of implementing stronger tobacco control measures to increase the number of smoke-free homes in Europe. They suggested expanding smoke-free laws in workplaces, public spaces, and even private areas like cars to accelerate the process of making more European homes smoke-free.
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