Going smoke-free. The medical case for clean air in the home, at work and in public places
2006

Going Smoke Free: A Review

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Hawkins Samuel

Primary Institution: University of Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Hypothesis

Does establishing smoke-free environments lead to significant health benefits?

Conclusion

The study concludes that enacting legislation for smoke-free environments can significantly reduce health risks associated with secondhand smoke.

Supporting Evidence

  • Environmental tobacco smoke exposure increases the risk of lung cancer, heart disease, COPD, and stroke by 20 to 40 percent.
  • Total smoking restrictions effectively eliminate exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in public spaces.
  • Public support for smoke-free legislation in the UK is above 80 percent.

Takeaway

This study shows that making places smoke-free helps keep people healthy by reducing their exposure to harmful smoke.

Methodology

The publication reviews existing epidemiological research and applies a statistical model to estimate deaths attributed to environmental tobacco smoke.

Potential Biases

The tobacco industry may attempt to influence public perception and legislation through lobbying and misinformation.

Limitations

The publication may not cover all aspects of the tobacco industry's influence on legislation.

Participant Demographics

The study references the British public's awareness and support for smoke-free legislation.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1617-9625-3-2-3

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