Non-smoking Chinese women at risk through second-hand smoke

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Men in China risk their wives' health through exposing them to environmental tobacco smoke.
Second-hand smoke exposure, also known as passive smoking, is a known health hazard, leading to an increased risk of coronary heart disease and lung cancer. A new study from China reveals the toll that passive smoking takes on women.

Smoking rates are high among Chinese men but most Chinese women don't smoke. The study covered over 72,000 women who were asked about smoking and other lifestyle factors for them and their husbands. Exposure to tobacco smoke from husbands was reported by 83 per cent of the women. This was linked to a moderately increased risk of death from all causes and especially from heart disease and stroke. Exposure early in life was linked to increased heart disease mortality and occupational exposure was associated with increased cancer - especially lung cancer - mortality. There was also a link between the amount of smoking on the part of the husband and the wife's mortality from stroke. The findings suggest that passive smoking is an important factor in women's health in China.

Source
British Medical Journal 19th August 2006 Volume 333 pages 376-379

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