Media release: August 19, 2004
Research
believed to have been funded by the tobacco industry showed more than ten years
ago that secondhand smoke can get into smaller airways and stay longer than
active smoke.
A study from the early
1990s by UK researchers*, held in a library of British American Tobacco
documents, has just come to light confirming that secondhand smoke tar stayed
longer in the airways (another study by some of the same authors cited in the
report said while tar from mainstream smoke remained in the airways for 1-2
hours, secondhand smoke tar stayed for over nine hours) - suggesting that it
penetrated more deeply into the lung, reaching much smaller airways, and taking
longer to disappear from the exhaled breath. Deeper penetration was made
possible by the smaller particle size of secondhand smoke.
Health and trade union
leaders say the study adds to the urgency of all Australian states and
territories implementing total indoor smoke bans in all workplaces, including
pubs and clubs.
Asks Anne Jones from the
SmokeFree Australia coalition: “We
would like to know what, if any, action BAT have taken to make these findings
widely known. Where are the warnings from tobacco companies about the harm
caused by secondhand smoke?
“Studies published just
in the past few months show it’s killing a large number of Australian bar
workers every year; that it causes twice the risk of heart disease previously
thought; and that it raises the overall death risk by up to 15%.
“The revenue being milked
from nicotine-addicted problem gamblers is simply not worth the overall health
harm to workers and patrons from these smoky venues,” she says.
“Venues accept that there
is a serious health risk and that legislation to ban indoor smoking is
inevitable. Any further delays will just lead to unnecessary exposure – and
increase the risk of expensive lawsuits against smoky venues.
“This also highlights the
need for workcover/worksafe authorities to act more decisively against this
clear and serious toxic danger to workers’ and patrons’ health.”
* Black A, McAughey JJ, Knight DA, Dickens CJ, Srong JC.
Aerosol Science Centre, AEA Technology, Harwell. Oxfordshire, UK. (circa
1992-93) “Estimation of ETS retention in volunteers from measurements of
exhaled smoke composition.” Bates no. 500831661. Online at http://bat.library.ucsf.edu/data/w/l/h/wlh10a99/wlh10a99.pdf
Comment: Anne Jones, ASH Australia ph. 0417-227-879
Comment
/ media info:
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823
SmokeFree Australia coalition
for clean safe workplaces:
Liquor,
Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers’ Union; Musicians’ Union of Australia; Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of
Trade Unions; Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council
Australia; National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking
and Health; Non-Smokers’ Movement of Australia; Australian Medical
Association.