‘Didn’t Sign Up For This’: 30.2 Per Cent Indians Face Passive Smoking At Workplaces

Painting a grim picture of workplaces in India, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey has revealed that 30.2 per cent of Indians are exposed to passive smoking in their workplaces, reports Financial Express.

The survey also found that over a third of non-smoking adults are exposed to passive smoking at their households. Passive smoking is the involuntary inhalation of smoke from tobacco products which consists of harmful chemicals.

Also called second-hand smoke, it contains 7,000 chemicals with over 70 of them known to cause cancer. With no safe levels, passive smoking is known to increase chances of severe health problems like heart diseases by 25 per cent, lung cancer by 20 per cent, and stroke by 20 per cent.

The survey states that the tobacco smoke is not restricted to the smoke room but permeates hallways, stairways and the surrounding areas.

There is a massive risk for third-hand smoking too, i.e .tobacco toxins that remain on the wall, toys, upholstery, etc. places where people have previously smoked and left.

The survey also found that one in four adults are exposed to passive smoke at public spaces despite a law banning public smoking having been enacted in 2008 (and modified in 2009) in the country. However, notwithstanding the efforts by the government, 5500 new smokers are added every day in the country.