Smoking - key statistics and points

7,000 people die from smoking related disease in Ireland every year
These deaths are preventable
90% of Lung cancers are caused by smoking
50% of all smokers will die from smoking related diseases
Smokers have an increased risk of cancers, heart disease, strokes, low birth weight and many other diseases
Smoking is the single most important preventable cause of illness and death
IARC have classified second hand smoke as a carcinogen
It costs us €1 Billion per year to provide health services for smokers
A non-smoker living with a smoker has a 25% increased risk of lung cancer and a 30% increased risk of heart disease
Passive smoke exposure increases the risk of stroke by 82%
Exposure to passive smoking in the workplace increases the risk of lung cancer by up to 40%
Exposure to passive smoking in the workplace increases the risk heart disease
Exposure to passive smoking in the workplace increases absenteeism, the rate of consultation with doctors and the rate of prescription usage
Standing in the path of a smoker or their cigarette or being in a room in which there are smokers means being exposed to at least 50 agents known to cause cancer and other chemicals that increase blood pressure, damage the lungs and cause abnormal kidney function.
Smokers lose an average of 10-15 years from their life expectancy

Smoking ban is a health and safety issue
Ventilation systems cannot fully remove carcinogens from the air
Even ideal systems leave the air with 1,500 to 2,500 time the acceptable risk levels for hazardous air pollutants
After banning smoking in bars, one American study found that there were significant improvements in respiratory symptoms and in lung functioning among bartenders
British medical journal found that banning smoking protects non-smokers and also encourages smokers to quit or reduce consumption
Two thirds of people support the ban- this percentage is increasing
40% of smokers support the ban
Finnish and United States experience has clearly shown the advantage of using a legislative approach as opposed to a voluntary code on workplace smoking, which up to now has been the approach adopted in Ireland and the UK

Entire community of health professionals agree on the enormous harm caused by the tobacco epidemic and have expressed full support for decisive and specific interventions that are known to be effective.