Although the subject is controversial nearly all health experts agree that the smoke from other people's cigarettes (passive smoking) can be harmful to non-smokers. Over a period of time non-smokers who are regularly exposed tobacco smoke, at home or in the workplace, are at greater risk of getting lung cancer and heart disease.
Putting figures on these risks is very difficult. Different studies give widely variable estimates of the hazards. Government figures have suggested that of the 33,600 people who die from lung cancer every year in the UK, about 200 might be non-smokers, who have been exposed to tobacco smoke at their job. More recent studies have suggested higher figures, claiming up to a thousand deaths a year may be due to this problem.
It is estimated that about 3 million people a year in the Britain are exposed to passive smoking at their place of work. It is also recognised that workers in the hospitality industry (bar staff, waiters etc) are particularly at risk and may have up to ten times the exposure to tobacco smoke of the average non-smoker. One recent study has suggested that one non-smoking worker in the hospitality industry in Britain dies each week as a result of a smoking related illness. Other research has shown that working in a smoky atmosphere is more likely to lead to developing lung cancer than living with a partner who smokes.
There is little information about the time it takes for these risks to develop, but common sense would suggest the longer someone works in a smoky atmosphere the more likely they are to develop smoking-related illnesses.
Although the health risks are still hotly debated (research recently published claimed little or no risk from passive smoking - but this was sponsored by tobacco industry!) most governments are looking seriously at the possibility of banning smoking in public places (the Irish government has already introduced such a ban in bars and restaurants), and public opinion surveys have suggested that up to 80% of people in the UK would support such a ban.