Tobacco Free Initiative

Arabic web site

Back

Key areas and groups

Passive smoking

The Facts World Health Organization Western Pacific Region

ACTION BY HEALTH WORKERS

1. Always ask about smoke exposure when doing health assessment

2. Advise parents or other family members of the harmful effects of active and passive smoke

3. Advise no smoking in the house or car or other enclosed place

4. Monitor changes in smoking patterns among your patients or contacts

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Report

"The conclusive evidence ....is that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) uptake in nonsmokers, is sufficient by itself to establish ETS as a known human lung carcinogen, or "Group A" carcinogen under the US EPA’s carcinogen classification system.

Environmental Protection Agency Report, December 1992

When confronted with this information, many will ask what they can do to reduce the risks to them of passive smoke. The following recommendations are keys to protecting your own health and those near to you.