Study reveals 'true extent' of passive smoking threat to children

Doctors today called for a ban on smoking in all vehicles after a new report revealed passive smoking causes at least 22,000 new cases of asthma and wheezing in children every year.

The report from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) found more than 20,000 chest infections, 120,000 bouts of middle ear disease and 200 cases of meningitis in youngsters are also thought to be linked to the effects of second-hand smoke both inside and outside the home.

Furthermore, 40 babies die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDs) every year caused by passive smoking - one in five of all SIDs deaths.

Professor John Britton, chairman of the RCP's tobacco advisory group, said legislation to ban smoking in the home would be unenforceable so instead views of "what is acceptable" had to be changed to protect the two million children who live in homes which allow smoking.

But a total ban on smoking in cars and vans would be easier to police than the current situation which expects enforcement officers to differentiate between business and private vehicles, he said.

"We would recommend a ban on smoking in all vehicles," he said.

Prof Britton said even drivers who never had child passengers should get out of their cars before lighting up for reasons of road safety.

Current smoke-free legislation is due for review this year and Prof Britton said it was an opportunity to "close remaining gaps".

Richard Ashcroft, a professor of bioethics at Queen Mary, University of London, who contributed to the report, said the review also gave opportunities to clamp down on smoking in public places frequented by children.

Prof Britton said this could include banning parents from smoking around the school gates but added it would be difficult to legislate for situations in private gardens.

The report said passive smoking results in more than 300,000 GP consultations for children, some 9,500 hospital admissions and costs the NHS about £23.3 million each year.

Prof Britton said: "Many parents believe that smoking in only one room or when the children have gone to bed will somehow protect the children from exposure. It doesn't."

Funded by Cancer Research UK and carried out by the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies, partly based at Nottingham University, the research found that children whose parents both smoked were almost nine times as likely to be exposed to second-hand smoke as those in non-smoking families.

The RCP called for increases in the real price of tobacco, measures to tackle tobacco smuggling and illegal trading, and investment in media campaigns targeted at young people.

Cigarettes should also be taken off display in shops while packaging should be made generic and standardised, doctors said.

Other measures include cutting down exposure to images of people smoking in the media - with films and television programmes which show gratuitous smoking classified as adult viewing - and stiff penalties for those who sell cigarettes to under-age youngsters.

Janet Davies, executive director of nursing and service delivery at the Royal College of Nursing, said: "Today's report should come as a stark warning to anyone who smokes around babies and children.

"The serious damage second-hand smoke causes to the long-term health and well-being of children is entirely avoidable and must be prevented."

Betty McBride, director of policy and communications at the British Heart Foundation, said: "All parents want the best for their children, yet many are making their kids breathe a toxic fog of tobacco fumes which only damages their health."

Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said: "If you ban smoking in cars, which is a private space, it's a small step to banning smoking in the home. Both measures are unacceptable and unenforceable."

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: "By increasing the level of awareness of the harmfulness of second-hand smoke, particularly to children, we will encourage people to voluntarily make their homes and private cars completely smoke-free."