Dr Amit Kumar, oncologist at Meherbai Tata Memorial Hospital, has expressed concern over the rising cases of secondhand smoke in the city. On the eve of World No Tobacco Day, he noted: “Secondhand smoke is inhaled by a non-smoker. It is found that 66 per cent of the smoke from a cigarette is not inhaled by the smoker, but enters the air, making it as devastating as smoking itself”.
secondhand smoke bears a perilous effect for everyone; all the more for children. Studies reveal that quite a large number of children are exposed to the risk of SOS. A recent survey indicated that 43 percent of children between 2 months to 11 years of age live in homes with at least one smoker.
He added that secondhand smoke is lethal because it has at least twice the amount of nicotine and tar as the smoke inhaled by the smoker; has five times the amount of carbon monoxide; contains higher levels of ammonia and cadmium; contains hydrogen cyanide, a toxic poisonous gas; contains nitrogen dioxide which is very harmful.
In fact, a regular exposure to second hand smoke increases the risk of lung disease by 25 per cent and heart disease by 10 per cent.
“This information is certainly alarming for all those who have children as being in a nascent stage of growth and development and having faster breathing as compared to adults, children are most vulnerable to SHS hazards at any given point of time. “Since many young children spend a large proportion of their time indoors, they may have significant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, making them vulnerable to diseases linked with SHS,” says Kumar.
“With World No Tobacco Day tomorrow, initiatives intended to bring awareness around effects of second hand smoking over children, need to introduced with renewed vigour.
As the theme of this year’s campaign is "Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”, let’s gear up to facilitate people identify the indirect advertisements and help them evade its hold, thereby further intensify the drive around the issues pertaining to second hand smoking,” says Kumar.
