Second hand killers
November 26, 2010
SECOND hand smoke is
responsible for the deaths of
around 603,000 people worldwide
per annum, 28% of which are
children, according to a new report
from the World Health Organization.
The report is based on “diseasespecific
relative risk estimates and
area-specific estimates of the
proportion of people exposed to
second-hand smoke” with data
collected from 194 countries
during 2004.
Findings of the report showed
that in 2004 40% of children world
wide as well as 33% of male nonsmokers
and 35% of female nonsmokers
were exposed to second
hand smoke.
The period also saw 603,000
deaths attributable to second hand
smoke, (379 000 deaths from
ischaemic heart disease, 165 000
from respiratory infections, 36 900
from asthma, and 21 400 from
lung cancer).
Female non-smokers accounted
for the lion’s share of second-hand
smoke deaths at 47%.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 26 Nov 10To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 26 Nov 10
