Half of Chinese suffer from second-hand smoke
(Xinhua) Updated: 2006-03-04 16:36 Shocked that nearly half of
country's 1.3 billion people are suffering from second-hand smoke, a lawmaker
has called for a national law banning smoking in all public places.
"According to my estimation based on a survey, nearly 600 million Chinese
suffer from passive smoking,' said Chen Guiyun, a deputy to the 10th National
People's Congress, China's legislature, from Chongqing.
Such passive smoking - recipients of the smoking of others - occurs in 71
percent of households, 32.5 percent of public places and 25 percent of working
places, he said.
China has 350 million smokers, 15 and older, or one of every three smokers in
the world.
"It is imperative to create a no-smoking social environment and enhance the
self-protection awareness of non-smokers," said Chen.
According to the legislator, women and children suffer most from secondhand
smoking, as the survey showed the passive smoking ratio among the females was 57
percent, and even as high as 70 percent among professional women aged between 20
and 49.
"I have tabled a motion to the upcoming NPC session, suggesting the State
Council formulate regulations on smoking ban in public places as early as
possible," said Chen, in Beijing for the NPC that opens tomorrow.
Many cities, government departments, organizations and enterprises have
adopted local or internal rules prohibiting smoking in public places.
A ban is only strictly observed by airline companies, which have forbidden
smoking on domestic or international flights.
Smoking is unchecked in most public places, such as restaurants, cinemas,
offices and train stations, despite conspicuous "no smoking" signs.
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