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14/01/2005
BMA criticises tobacco industry claims
Tobacco industry claims that ventilation in bars could help protect people form the effects of passive smoke, have been condemned by the Scottish branch of the British Medical Association (BMA).
The BMA issued a statement, following a conference held by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, saying that the claims were "untrue and based on flawed science".
The association said that ventilation systems would not reduce the risk caused by hazardous secondary smoke. Although ventilation systems use a filtration method to re-circulate air, this will only clear the smoky atmosphere, the BMA says, while the toxins present in the gas of second-hand smoke will remain.
A report published by the World Health Organisation in 2000, echoed the BMA's claims stating that while positive output ventilation may reduce the risk, it does not eliminate it. The organisation concluded that since there is no evidence for a safe exposure level to second-hand smoke, legislation limited to ventilation standards can not achieve smoke free workplaces and public places.
Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland, said: "Passive smoke kills. Businesses installing expensive ventilation systems will do so in the belief that they are protecting staff and the public from the ill-effects of second-hand smoke. They are mistaken."
Dr Terry said that although ventilation could help reduce the irritability of smoke, it could not eliminate its poisonous components. He said: "Tobacco smoke contains 4,000 toxins and more than 50 cancer-causing substances. Many of these are odourless, invisible gases, which are not removed by ventilation systems."
He added: "Partial bans on smoking in enclosed public places would not protect people from the harmful health effects of exposure to passive smoke and voluntary measures have failed. Smoke free enclosed public places are what Scotland wants and needs. The only way to protect the significant majority of the population who do not smoke is to legislate for smoke-free enclosed public places."
(KMcA/SP)
The BMA issued a statement, following a conference held by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, saying that the claims were "untrue and based on flawed science".
The association said that ventilation systems would not reduce the risk caused by hazardous secondary smoke. Although ventilation systems use a filtration method to re-circulate air, this will only clear the smoky atmosphere, the BMA says, while the toxins present in the gas of second-hand smoke will remain.
A report published by the World Health Organisation in 2000, echoed the BMA's claims stating that while positive output ventilation may reduce the risk, it does not eliminate it. The organisation concluded that since there is no evidence for a safe exposure level to second-hand smoke, legislation limited to ventilation standards can not achieve smoke free workplaces and public places.
Dr Peter Terry, Chairman of BMA Scotland, said: "Passive smoke kills. Businesses installing expensive ventilation systems will do so in the belief that they are protecting staff and the public from the ill-effects of second-hand smoke. They are mistaken."
Dr Terry said that although ventilation could help reduce the irritability of smoke, it could not eliminate its poisonous components. He said: "Tobacco smoke contains 4,000 toxins and more than 50 cancer-causing substances. Many of these are odourless, invisible gases, which are not removed by ventilation systems."
He added: "Partial bans on smoking in enclosed public places would not protect people from the harmful health effects of exposure to passive smoke and voluntary measures have failed. Smoke free enclosed public places are what Scotland wants and needs. The only way to protect the significant majority of the population who do not smoke is to legislate for smoke-free enclosed public places."
(KMcA/SP)
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