Health campaigners are warning that new evidence suggests
lockdown has left more children exposed to the harms of
secondhand smoke.
The warning comes today from Action on Smoking and Health
(ASH), British Lung Foundation, Fresh and Breathe 2025 [1] as
evidence from the YouGov COVID tracker [2] shows that people who
live in households that include children are 50% more likely to
report being exposed to secondhand smoke since lockdown compared
to those without children (10% compared with 6%). A
further 12% of smokers who live with children report they are
smoking indoors more than they did before lockdown.
YouGov’s COVID tracker found that parents who smoke are
just as likely as other smokers to report making quit attempts
and trying to reduce the amount they smoke since lockdown.
However, the indication that lockdown is leading to more frequent
exposure to secondhand smoke has raised concerns that they are
not getting the right support to quit and to protect those around
them from tobacco smoke at this time.
Deborah Arnott, Chief Executive of ASH, which is leading a
campaign to encourage smokers to QuitForCovid, said:
“This is an issue of equity. If you live in a high-rise
block, taking your smoke outside is much harder than in a
semi-detached with a garden.
“We know parents who smoke are trying to quit and
reduce the amount they
smoke — and we need
to make sure they have the support the need to do this. I urge
smokers to get in touch with local services and to use other
sources of nicotine as an alternative to smoking indoors if they
need help to handle cravings. They can find out more
at www.todayistheday.org.uk.”
Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants
and children, raising the risks of more frequent and severe
asthma attacks, respiratory infections, ear infections, and even
meningitis and sudden infant death.
Among adults, exposure significantly increases the risk of
stroke, coronary heart disease (CHD) and lung cancer in
non-smokers.
85% of secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless, but
many people are not aware that steps like opening a window,
smoking by the back door or smoking in another room do little to
protect children and other non-smoking adults. [3]
Respiratory consultant Dr Nick Hopkinson, Medical Director
at British Lung Foundation and Chair of ASH said:
“Exposure to secondhand smoke is one of the leading
causes of poor respiratory health in children. Smokers need to
take their smoke outside but should try to quit if they can.
Using alternative sources of nicotine like patches, gum or
e-cigarettes can help reduce craving and protect them and their
loved ones, especially children, from harm.”
Smokers can find out how to get help with their quit
attempts by visiting www.todayistheday.co.uk and
ask questions of leading experts by tweeting
@QuitforCOVID.
Notes
[1] This survey was conducted between
15th and 5th May. It was an
online survey using the YouGov panel with 4007
respondents. For more information on the YouGov
COVID Tracker see: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/international/articles-reports/2020/03/17/YouGov-international-COVID-19-tracker
[2] ASH is
a public health charity founded in 1971 by the Royal College of
Physicians. British Lung
Foundation is the UK’s leading lung
health charity. Fresh is
a regional public health charity in the North East of
England. Breathe
2025 is a regional public
health campaign across Yorkshire and
Humber.
