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What are the risks of second hand smoke to short and long term health?
The upcoming extension of smoking bans to certain outdoor spaces in England has sparked discussion about the health effects of second-hand smoke. The planned restrictions will include areas like children’s playgrounds, schools, and hospitals, though the Government has opted not to extend the ban to pub beer gardens and terraces, citing potential economic harm to the hospitality sector.
Second-hand smoke exposure has long been recognised as a health risk, linked to conditions such as heart disease, lung cancer, and asthma exacerbations. While extensive exposure, such as living with a smoker, carries a higher risk, the impact of more limited outdoor exposure remains less clear. Studies suggest outdoor smoking does elevate levels of harmful fine particles, though these are often much lower than pollution from sources like vehicle emissions.
Professor Sean Semple, an air pollution expert at the University of Stirling, cited increased risk of lung cancer, asthma exacerbations and stroke even with relatively low levels of exposure.
Hazel Cheeseman, Chief Executive of ASH, said that whilst long term health effects such as cancer may take years to materialise, some people are more vulnerable to the immediate effects of exposure to second hand smoke, for example people with asthma.
Advocates argue that extending bans could also discourage smoking among young people by reducing its visibility.
Source: The I, 3 December 2024
Editorial note: The article incorrectly states that the previous Conservative government committed to ban smoking in outdoor smoking in pub beer gardens and terraces. The proposals on extending smokefree legislation to outdoor places were first put forward by the current Labour government.
Source: The I, 3 December 2024
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Smoking rates fall across Greater Manchester despite local challenges
Smoking rates in Greater Manchester have continued to decline, with the region seeing a steady decrease following a brief rise in 2020. However, disparities remain, as some boroughs, like Tameside and Salford, still exceed the national smoking average. Tameside, while showing the highest rate in the region at 15.9% in 2023, has made significant progress with a notable drop from 20.2% in 2022.
Efforts such as Tameside’s Tobacco-Free Plan and support initiatives like Be Well Tameside are credited with helping residents quit. Pregnancy-related smoking rates in the borough have also fallen dramatically.
Women in Greater Manchester are smoking less, with a sharp decline in female smokers bringing their rates below the national average for the first time since 2019. Men’s smoking rates, however, remain slightly above the national average.
Caroline Cerny, Deputy Chief Executive of Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) highlighted the comprehensive approach taken to tackle smoking in Greater Manchester and stressed the importance of maintaining strong focus on tobacco control going forwards.
Source: Mancunian Matters, 3 December 2024
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Fast food outlets near schools spark concerns over health and obesity
Research reveals a sharp rise in fast food and coffee chain outlets near schools, with nearly 1,000 new branches opening within 400 metres of schools across Great Britain since 2014. Subway, Domino’s, and Greggs account for the majority of these openings, leading to a 38% increase in schools located close to such outlets. Critics argue this trend encourages unhealthy eating habits among children and exacerbates childhood obesity, particularly in disadvantaged areas.
Campaigners and health experts have accused these companies of deliberately targeting young people by clustering outlets near schools, prioritising profits over public health. They warn this surge in outlets embeds unhealthy food into children’s daily routines, contributing to long-term health inequalities.
Proposed government measures include revising planning laws to limit new fast food openings near schools and restricting junk food advertising aimed at children.
Source: The Guardian, 4 December 2024
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Parliamentary Written Questions
Asked by Mr Paul Kohler, Liberal Democrat, Wimbledon
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that local stop smoking services offer the option of a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-approved non-pharmaceutical method to help smokers quit.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Denton
The Government is providing local stop smoking services an additional £70 million this year to support smokers to quit. It will also provide an additional £70 million next year for stop smoking services. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published recommendations for providers of stop smoking services. The guidelines suggest that the most effective way of successfully stopping smoking is through behavioural support therapy combined with either varenicline, nicotine replacement therapy, or nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. Further information on the NICE recommendations for providers of stop smoking services is available here. Local stop smoking services currently offer the option of non-pharmaceutical methods to help smokers quit, alongside behavioural support. According to the 2023/24 annual Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England, 20,641, or 11%, of those accessing services and setting a quit date used no pharmaceutical products in their attempt to quit smoking.
Source: Hansard, 4 December
Asked by Sorcha Eastwood, Alliance, Lagan Valley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on supporting smokers in Northern Ireland to quit.
Answered by Andrew Gwynne, Labour, Denton
The landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill was introduced into Parliament on 5 November 2024 and will be the single biggest public health intervention since the Government banned smoking in indoor public spaces. This bill goes further than ever before. It will create the first smoke-free generation, gradually phasing out the sale of tobacco products across the country, enable the Government to strengthen the existing ban on smoking in public places, to reduce the harms of passive smoking in certain outdoor settings, ban vapes and nicotine products from being promoted and advertised to children, and introduce tougher enforcement measures, including through providing powers to introduce a retail licensing scheme for tobacco and vapes. The bill has been developed in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government, and the Welsh Government. The Department has engaged extensively with all the devolved administrations throughout the process of drafting the bill. I also have liaised directly with Minister Nesbitt and his department's officials on the bill\'s contents and progress, and will continue to do so. Stop smoking services and support for smokers to quit are devolved matters, and support for smokers to quit in Northern Ireland is for the Northern Ireland Executive to determine.
Source: Hansard 4 December
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ASH Daily News is a digest of published news on smoking-related topics. ASH is not responsible for the content of external websites. ASH does not necessarily endorse the material contained in this bulletin.
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