Exposure to tobacco smoke
More than 79,000 adults died in 2002 as a result of passive smoking in 25 countries of the EU. The overall figure includes smokers and non-smokers, because inhaling side-stream smoke from cigarettes kills people in both groups.
A total of just over 19,000 of the deaths were among non-smokers.
Exposure to tobacco smoke poses a heavy burden on the health of Europeans, as well as on society as a whole. Research has shown that exposure to tobacco smoke increases morbidity and mortality. For instance, in the hospitality industry, exposure to tobacco smoke accounts for one death every working day across the EU.
Comprehensive smoking bans are cost-effective policy interventions to reduce exposure to tobacco smoke and, therefore, the economic and social burden that it poses to society. Furthermore, research evidence shows that smokefree policies reduce tobacco consumption and do not impact negatively on the hospitality industry.
More than 200 million European citizens are currently protected by good national smokefree laws. Visit the SFP interactive map to view which countries have implemented smokefree legislation
More than 79,000 adults died in 2002 as a result of passive smoking in the 25 countries of the EU
A total of just over 19,000 of the deaths were among non-smokers
Evidence shows that smokefree policies reduce tobacco consumption and do not impact negatively on the hospitality industry
SOURCES
European Commission, Tobacco or Health in the European Union: Past, Present and Future, Luxembourg, 2004
Smokefree Partnership, Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for a smoke free Europe, Belgium, 2006
WHO, Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic: the MPOWER package, Geneva, 2008
