A recent survey conducted in Europe revealed that seven out of ten homes in the region are smoke-free, but there are significant differences among countries. The study, which included over 11,700 participants from 12 European countries, found that nearly one in five homes had some smoking rules in place.
The survey ranked Greece as the worst country for smoke-free homes, with only 44 percent of homes being smoke-free, followed by Romania, Bulgaria, and Spain. On the other hand, England was at the top of the list with almost 85 percent of homes being smoke-free.
Olena Tigova, the author of the study from the Tobacco Control Unit of the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Spain, highlighted that countries in Northern Europe tend to have more smoke-free homes compared to Eastern Europe and less affluent countries. Smoke-free homes were more common among older people, women, those with higher education, and those living with children.
The research also highlighted the risks of passive smoking, linking it to approximately 24,000 adult deaths in Europe. Pregnant women exposed to passive smoke are more prone to premature birth, and children are at higher risk of breathing problems, asthma, and allergies.
While the number of smoke-free homes in Europe is increasing by about one percent each year, Tigova emphasized the need for stronger tobacco control measures to accelerate this process. Expanding smoke-free laws in workplaces, public spaces, and even private areas like cars could help make more European homes smoke-free sooner.
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