Around 70% of homes in Europe are smoke-free, but there are big differences between countries, a new survey has found. The survey, which involved more than 11,700 people in 12 European countries, is published in the European Respiratory Society’s journal ERJ Open Research.
England topped the list of countries with the highest proportion of smoke-free homes, with around 85% of homes. It was followed by Ireland, Latvia and Italy. Greece, on the other hand, came in last among the 12 countries, with just 44% of homes smoke-free, followed by Romania, Bulgaria and Spain.
“Our aim with this research was to study smoking rules in homes across Europe,” said Olena Tigova, lead author of the study from the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain.
Although there have been some national surveys, there has not been a multi-country survey in Europe since 2010.”
Countries in Northern Europe show a greater number of smoke-free homes, while in Eastern Europe and less wealthy countries, partial rules allowing smoking in certain areas or on specific occasions are common, Tigova added.
The study showed that smoke-free homes were more common among older people aged 65 and over, women, people with higher education, and families with children.
The risks of passive smoking
Passive smoking, also called second-hand smoke, poses a major public health risk. This type of smoking is linked to a range of serious diseases such as lung cancer and heart disease, and causes around 24,000 deaths among adults in Europe each year.
Pregnant women exposed to passive smoking are also more likely to be born prematurely, while children exposed to these pollutants suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies.
Although the number of smoke-free homes in Europe is increasing, the researchers noted that this progress is very slow. If this trend continues, it could take about 30 years for all homes in Europe to be smoke-free.
To speed up progress, the researchers recommend stronger tobacco control measures, such as extending smoking bans to workplaces, public places and some private spaces such as cars. They also suggest new strategies to reduce indoor smoking are needed.
Since 2004, many European countries have imposed laws banning smoking in public places, but homes remain a common location for smoking and exposure to tobacco smoke. The researchers note that private spaces, such as homes, still see continued smoking, exposing people to secondhand smoke.
