Fact File: 10 facts about tobacco and second-hand smoke

Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the world. It causes 1 in 10 deaths among adults worldwide. In 2005, tobacco caused 5.4 million deaths, or an average of one death every 6 seconds. At the current rate, the death toll is projected to reach 8.3 million by 2030 and a total of one billion in the 21st century.

Second-hand tobacco smoke is dangerous to health. It causes cancer, heart disease and many other serious diseases in adults. Almost half of the world's children breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke, which worsens their asthma conditions and causes dangerous diseases. At least 200 000 workers die every year due to exposure to second-hand smoke at work.

This fact file explains why ensuring a smoke-free environment is the only way to protect ourselves from the lethal ill effects of tobacco smoke.

Read the fact file

Source: http://www.who.int/en/

Smoking In Europe

-Greece has the highest proportion of adult smokers in Europe - 45%
-Ireland was the first European country to implement a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places in March 2004
-Norway followed soon after, but allowed a smokers' corner in workplaces
-Italy banned workplace smoking in January 2005 and Naples and Verona have made smoking illegal in public parks
-Belgium allows smoking in cafes and bars if they have ventilation installed and are at least 50sq m (538sq ft) in area

Source: BBC_NEWS