For smokers, it ‘s bad news again. The Queensland (Australia) government has decided to toughen its laws on anti-smoking.
Smoking will soon be prohibited in cars carrying children. This comes in the wake of a finding that one child under five years of age, dies every 18 days, when exposed to cigarette smoke.The Queensland Health Minister while unveiling the Health of Queenslanders Report, 2006, made these comments.
A review by the World Health Organization has concluded that passive smoking is a cause of bronchitis, pneumonia, coughing and wheezing, asthma attacks, middle ear infection, cot death, and possibly cardiovascular and neurobiological impairment in children. These findings were confirmed by the UK’s Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH), which reviewed the evidence in 2004 following its initial report on second-hand smoke in 1998.
This to- be- considered ban would be following one made last year, asking smokers to keep a distance of 4m from entrances of shopping centers and malls. It carries a fine of $150.
There is already the consideration of increasing this distance to 10 m. This is supported by concerns raised by independent MP Foley, that the ban actually results in all the smoke being accumulated in one area making it difficult for non-smokers to get through.
Source-Medindia
SRM
