The WHO has urged its member states to observe World No Tobacco Day 2007 (May 31) with the theme of “Smoke-Free Environment. Towards smoke-free inside: Create and enjoy 100% smoke-free environment.” In Nepal too, the day is observed by tobacco control organisations by disseminating anti-tobacco messages throughout the country. The aim is to protect people from second hand smoke and environmental smoke pollution, especially children and pregnant women.

Smoke-free environment includes all indoor venues (including bars and restaurants) and smoke-free public places. Worldwide, 12 countries (Bermuda, Bhutan, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Uruguay, England, Northern Ireland and France, plus 27 US states) have enacted smoke-free laws that extend to restaurants and bars as well.

As mandated by the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control, (FCTC), Nepal must adopt effective measures to protect against exposure to tobacco smoke at workplace, public places and public transport or enact total smoking bans. In addition, Nepal should review and adopt the proposed guidelines for the implementation of FCTC. Unfortunately, the proposed anti-tobacco law has yet to be forwarded to the cabinet. Without political commitment and strong anti-tobacco law, public interest litigation on tobacco and concrete policies on smoke-free environment will surely fail.

Breathing in smoke-free air is a human right of non-smokers and children. It must thus be protected by legislation. Every citizen has a civic duty to protect their children, family and workplace from the effects of second hand smoking.

A new WHO study concludes that smoking will kill 50 per cent more people than HIV/AIDS by 2015 and will account for 10 per cent of all deaths globally. In Nepal, over 15,000 smokers die every year due to the side-effects of smoking.

Even in second hand smoke, there are 4,800 chemicals, 87 carcinogens, resulting in instances of lung cancer and heart diseases, sudden infant death syndrome, low birth weight, acute respiratory infection, ear infection and asthma attacks in children. As per US Centre for Disease Control, second hand smoke is the prime source of toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, polonium-210, vinyl chloride, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, butane, ammonia, toluene, cadmium, lead, arsenic and chromium.

There is no risk-free level of exposure to second hand smoke. Worldwide, millions of non-smokers are exposed to second hand smoke at work. WHO concludes that every tenth lung cancer death is related to second hand risks at the workplace. Workers who inhale second hand smoke on a regular basis at their workplaces have double the risk of developing lung cancer compared to those working in a smoke-free environment. In Nepal’s context, 30% children and 39% adolescents are exposed to second hand smoke at home alone.

It should be remembered that even non-smokers and children can become addicted to toxic second hand smoke. Hence, it is urgent to advocate for human rights of non-smokers, child and pregnant women to breathe in smoke-free air. People should begin by creating a smoke-free environment at their home, neighbourhood and community for healthy and fulfilling life of, not just the smokers, but everyone.