Smokefree England: Reports

Department of Health publications:

The first SCOTH report - Report of the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (1998)

In 1998, the Government's independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) published the Report of the Scientific Committee that included a chapter on secondhand smoke.

After reviewing scientific evidence, SCOTH concluded in the report that:

- exposure to secondhand smoke is a cause of lung cancer and childhood respiratory disease, and

- there is evidence that exposure to secondhand smoke is a cause of heart disease and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), middle ear disease and asthma attacks in children.

Based on these findings, SCOTH recommended "restrictions on smoking in public places and work places are necessary to protect non-smokers".
Find out more (new window)

The second SCOTH report - Secondhand Smoke: Review of evidence since 1998 (2004)

In 2004 the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health (SCOTH) reviewed the research on secondhand smoke and health that had emerged since the publication of the 1998 SCOTH report. SCOTH reported that findings from studies conducted during this period support and reinforce the Committee's conclusions in its 1998 report.
SCOTH secondhand smoke (pdf, 165KB)

The Government White Paper on smoking - Smoking Kills (1998)

This White Paper announces the Government's plan of action to support smokers to quit. It notes action already taken by the Government on tobacco advertising and taxation. It goes on to present a series of measures for reducing smoking among young people, new cessation services for adults and action on smoking among pregnant women.

Smoking Kills also outlines proposals for abolishing tobacco advertising and promotion, altering public attitudes, preventing tobacco smuggling and supporting research. It describes further proposals for working in partnership with businesses to restrict smoking in public places, places of work and government offices. Partnerships with other governments at European and global levels are also covered. The closing sections describe how progress will be measured and monitored and sets out the paper's broad conclusions. The paper ends with lists of the government departments involved and bodies and associations consulted. Cites numerous references.
Smoking Kills (pdf, 1MB)

The Government White Paper on public health - Choosing Health (2004)

This White Paper sets out the key principles for supporting the public to make healthier and more informed choices in regards to their health. This paper includes a commitment from the Government to shift the balance significantly in favour of smokefree public places.
Choosing Health (pdf, 3MB)

International reports on secondhand smoke:

World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans - Volume 8

The IARC have concluded that exposure to secondhand smoke is carcinogenic to humans. Read the summary evaluation here.
Summary evaluation (pdf, 45KB)

WHO document:

This document aims to provide guidelines and support to the Member States of the WHO European Region in strengthening protection from exposure to tobacco smoke at the workplace. It is the third publication in the series of policy documents following the adoption of the European Strategy for Tobacco Control.
WHO European (pdf, 451MB)

US Surgeon General's report on secondhand smoke - The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (2006)

The US Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, published a comprehensive scientific report which concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. The report, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, finds that even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm. The report states the only way to protect non-smokers from the dangerous chemicals in secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.
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Legislating for smokefree workplaces

A WHO publication that provides guidelines and support to the Member States of the WHO European Region in strengthening protection from exposure to tobacco smoke at the workplace.
Legislating for smokefree workplaces (pdf, 451KB)

Smokefree workplaces at a glance

The World Bank believes workplaces should be smokefree for a range of health and economic reasons.
AAG Smokefree Workplaces (pdf, 110KB)

The health effects of environmental tobacco smoke in the workplace

Was published in January 2003 by the Health and Safety Authority and the Office of Tobacco Control in the Republic of Ireland to "identify and report on the degree of consensus that exists among leading international scientific authorities on the question of the hazard and risk posed by environmental tobacco smoke to human health in the workplace".
Report on the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the workplace (pdf, 252KB)

International reports on smokefree legislation:

Smokefree Workplaces in Ireland: A one year review (2005)

Enclosed workplaces became smoke-free by law in the Republic of Ireland in March 2004 under provisions in the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts 2002 and 2004. Since then offices, shops, factories, bars, restaurants and other enclosed workplaces have been smokefree.
1 year report Ireland (pdf, 374KB)

State of Smokefree New York City (2004)

When the Smoke-Free Air Act went into effect on March 30, 2003, questions were asked about how the laws would affect the city's restaurants and bars. This report looks at the impact of smokefree laws on New York City.
State of Smokefree NY City (pdf, 222KB)

New Zealand's The Smoke is Clearing: Anniversary report (2005)

This report summarises the impacts of the first nine months of New Zealand's smokefree legislation, the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act 2003, which came into effect on 10 December 2004.
Smoke clearing NZ (pdf, 213KB)

Norway: Norway's Ban on Smoking in Bars and Restaurants: A Review of the First Year (2005)

This report provides an overview of the impact of the first year of smokefree legislation in Norway.
Smokefree bars and restaurants in Norway (pdf, 160KB)

California Smokefree workplace case study

This case study describes the groundswell of public demand for smokefree environments and specific actions taken by the California Tobacco Control Program, in concert with county health departments throughout California, to prepare for a statewide ban on smoking inside bars, taverns and gaming clubs.
Califonia Smokefree workplace case study (pdf, 515KB)

Medical, scientific and economic publications on secondhand smoke:

A report on passive smoking by the Royal College of Physicians of London - Going smoke-free

Compiled by leading experts and based on extensive research, this report addresses the serious consequences of passive smoking in the UK. It appraises the health impacts and policy options for preventing passive smoke exposure in the home, at work and in public places.
Going smokefree (pdf, 1.14MB)

Estimate of deaths caused by secondhand smoke in the UK

A British Medical Journal article by Konrad Jamrozik which attempts to calculate the human toll of secondhand smoke. "Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among UK adults".
Estimate of deaths (pdf, 110KB)

Passive smoking by the Tobacco Advisory Group

Passive smoking currently kills 12,000 people in the UK every year. These deaths are entirely preventable. Compiled by leading experts in the field and based on extensive research, this report addresses the serious consequences of passive smoking in the UK. It appraises the health impacts and policy options for preventing passive smoke exposure in the home, at work and in public places.
Passive smoking by the Tobacco Advisory Group (ppt, 216KB)

World Health Organisation's Waterpipe Tobacco Smoke: Health effects, research needs and recommended actions by regulators.

WHO scientific advisory note on waterpipe tobacco smoking. This advisory note addresses the growing concerns about the increasing prevalence and potential health effects of tobacco smoking using waterpipes.
Waterpipe Recommendation (pdf, 550KB)

Other references on smoking:

National Statistics bulletin on Smoking in England (2006)

This statistical bulletin presents a range of information on smoking. Sources used within this publication include the General Household Survey, Drug Use, Smoking and Drinking among Young People, Smoking-Related Behaviour and Attitudes and various other publications from Office for National statistics, Home Office, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, The Information Centre and the European Commission.
Statistics on Smoking England 2006 (pdf, 832KB)