Media release: April 7, 2006
A
new study has suggested for the first time that secondhand smoke may spark
diabetes.
The
15-year US study, to be published this week in the prestigious British
Medical Journal*, says inhaling others’ tobacco smoke raises by more than
40% the risk of glucose intolerance, a precursor of Type 2 Diabetes – the main
form, suffered by almost million
Australians.
The
study has led to renewed calls for Australian state and territory governments to
urgently review their regulations on smoking bans in workplaces – to ensure
effective total indoor smoke bans and ensure that any remaining smoking areas
are substantially unenclosed, separate and unserviced.
The
study tracked more than 4,500 men and women from 1985 to 2000 in the US cities
of Birmingham, Alabama; Chicago; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Oakland,
California. During this period, 22%
of smokers developed glucose intolerance – and 17% of non-smokers exposed to
secondhand smoke, well ahead of the non-smoker non-exposed rate of 12%.
Passive
smoking was first identified as a health risk in 1992, and has been associated
with heart disease and cancer - but not, until now, with diabetes.
Says
SmokeFree Australia** spokesperson, Action on Smoking and Health CEO Anne Jones:
”Governments can’t ignore the new research on the basis that decisions have
already been made. Recent studies have suggested that passive smoke contains
more dangerous ingredients than previously thought.
“Each
new study on secondhand smoke harm points more strongly to the need to revise
past decisions and make new and clearly enforceable rules consistent with the
need to protect public health and occupational safety.
“If
smoky workplaces loopholes are left as they are in NSW, Victoria, ACT, SA and
the NT, serious and potentially fatal health harm will result. There will be
preventable disease, disability and death - and venues will be quite rightly
held legally accountable for failing to remove this toxic hazard.”
* Houston T et al in
BMJ (2006), abstract at http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/abstract/bmj.38779.584028.55v1?hrss=1
Comment:
Anne Jones, ASH Australia
m. 0417-227-879
Stafford Sanders, SmokeFree Australia
ph. (02) 9334-1823 m.
0412-070-194
** 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; Asthma and Allergy Research Institute.