Asthma Body Applauds Smoking Ban, Australia

July 10, 2007 – 8:58 pm | posted in Respiratory / Asthma, Smoking / Quit Smoking

Australia’s peak asthma body, the National Asthma Council Australia, has heralded tomorrow’s introduction of tougher smoking laws in New South Wales and Victoria as a major health victory.

Effective from mid-night, both states will introduce a complete indoor smoking ban in all licensed premises, cutting the risk of passive smoking and limiting the appeal of smoking for others.

According to National Asthma Council Chairman, Prof John Wilson, the ban will benefit all patrons with asthma as well as bar staff who are virtually smoking half a packet of cigarettes in an eight hour shift, based on the amount of second- hand smoke they have to endure1.

The detrimental impact of passive smoking has been extensively documented, with the US Environmental Protection Authority branding secondhand smoke a ‘Class A carcinogen’, responsible for thousands of deaths each year.

“Second-hand smoke is a serious asthma trigger that can cause or worsen respiratory conditions,” Prof Wilson said. “Smoking bans will limit exposure to this side-stream pollution, reducing the indirect irritation to the air-passages of those with asthma.”

Prof Wilson is also hopeful that reducing the appeal of smoking will prevent people from taking up the habit in the first place.

He said: “Australian studies have shown that over 60 per cent of adults with asthma have tried smoking at some time and smoking bans will hopefully reduce direct exposure to this important and addictive cause of asthma instability.”

According to the latest figures asthma in Australia affects over two million people and was responsible for 318 deaths in 2005.

1 NSW Government data 2004

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