Background Information:

Passive smoking and children
Children are more susceptible to the effects of passive smoking than adults. In one study, cotinine levels, which are a marker of exposure to tobacco smoke, were found in the saliva of children in households where both parents smoked. When measured these children were found to have received a nicotine equivalent of 80 cigarettes in a year.

Bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma and other chronic respiratory illnesses are significantly more common in children and infants who have one or two smoking parents. The larger the number of smokers in the household, the greater the risk of cancer for non-smokers in the family. Children of parents who smoke during the child’s earlier life run a higher risk of cancer in adulthood.

For more information about the risks of passive smoking go to links and visit the ASH website.

Smoking prevention
Since the 1970s health education including the health effects of smoking has been introduced to the curriculum of most primary and secondary schools in the UK. Research suggests that knowing about smoking is a necessary component of anti-smoking campaigns but by itself does not affect smoking rates.

It may, however, postpone initiation which also potentially has the effect of reducing the number of years exposure, and reduces exposure during a particularly vulnerable phase of growth and development.

Recent research shows that while the price of cigarettes does not appear to affect initial experimentation with smoking, it is an important tool in reducing youth smoking once the habit has become established.