Although the study shows that the percentage (24%) of people who are victims of passive smoking has increased by 3 points compared to 2011, it represents a decrease when compared to the data from the survey carried out in 2005 when the affected population was 49.5%.
This research was carried out by the Institute for Market Research and Strategic Marketing (Ikerfel), at the request of the SEPAR Smoking Area, with a sample of 3,000 people between 16 and 80 years old.
In the study, 17% of the people surveyed said they smoked conventional cigarettes, with the 16 to 44 age group having the highest percentage of smokers.
The study also addresses new forms of consumption, such as vaping and heated tobacco, with a particular focus on the younger population.
Dr Inmaculada Gorordo, the coordinator of the study, highlights the global prevalence of passive smoking at 24% and warns: “If we consider exposure on terraces, more than half of non-smokers are affected by passive smoking.â€
Do we suffer from passive smoking?
The terraces of hospitality establishments are the places where non-smokers are most exposed to passive smoking since 48% of them say they breathe tobacco smoke in these spaces.
In their homes, 9% of non-smokers live with tobacco smoke, while in schools, 7% of non-smoking students say they are exposed to this substance.
In the workplace, 8% of non-smoking employees are exposed to tobacco smoke, a figure that rises to 22% in the hospitality sector.
Dr. Carlos Jiménez, a member of the Scientific Committee of the study, has presented the data collected over the last two decades, which show the evolution of passive smoking in Spain.
“Over the past 13 years, during which there has been no change in the current legislation regulating tobacco consumption, the prevalence of passive smoking has increased slightly in several settings: in homes from 8% to 9%, at work from 6% to 8%, in educational centres from 6.3% to 7% and in leisure venues from 12% to 15%,â€
— Dr. Carlos Jiménez.
Exposure to new products
10% of people interviewed in the study admit to being consumers of new products, such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco.
This percentage is higher in people under 24 years of age, and practically zero in people over 54 years of age.
In their homes, 7% of non-smokers are exposed to vapours, while in schools, 12% of students who are neither smokers nor consumers of new products say they are exposed to vapours.
Furthermore, 4% of non-consumers of new products are exposed at work, a figure that rises to 18% in the hospitality industry.
In leisure areas, exposure to vapours is 12%, slightly lower than exposure to tobacco (15%).
Dr Juan Antonio Riesgo Miranda warns that there is greater permissiveness towards exposure to the vapour of new products compared to traditional tobacco smoke.
Lack of restrictions
The majority of respondents support the idea of ​​increasing restrictions on the consumption of these substances.
The data presented in the SEPAR study underline the urgency of strengthening prevention and awareness policies, as well as promoting more effective strategies to reduce tobacco consumption and minimize passive exposure to smoke.
Despite growing awareness of the risks, there remains a critical need for intervention to protect public health and reduce the impact of smoking on the population.
Tobacco causes disease
Tobacco consumption and passive smoke exposure remain predominant causes of respiratory diseases globally.
Dr. Juan Antonio Riesgo Miranda, director of research projects on tobacco addiction at SEPAR, explains that inhalation of tobacco smoke is closely linked to the development of serious pathologies.
“ Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most common chronic respiratory diseases and there is a noticeable increase in the number of smokers and consumers of new products in both groups, particularly among the asthmatic population,†says the expert.
Conclusions of the study
The health status of the population
- The average assessment of the population’s health status is optimal in more than 80% of respondents.
- This percentage is lower among tobacco smokers and households with smokers, something that is repeated with new products.
- 3 % of the population has consulted for health problems in the last year, with this group being larger among active smokers and regular consumers of new producers.
Respiratory health problems are the most frequently consulted. - Family doctors and pulmonologists are the most frequently consulted specialists.
The sensation of suffocation (dyspnea), wheezing and expectoration predominate in respiratory symptoms, particularly among smokers and habitual consumers of new products. - Asthma and COPD are the most common chronic respiratory diseases and there is a notable increase in the number of smokers and consumers of new products in both groups, particularly among the asthmatic population.
- The majority of the population interviewed would be in favour of increasing restrictions on the consumption of these substances, but this was not the case for the group of smokers and regular consumers.
- The perception of risk from inhaling tobacco smoke and vapour from new devices is
particularly low among consumers of both groups. - There is greater permissiveness to exposure to the vapour of new products than to exposure to tobacco smoke.
- There is a great lack of awareness of the legislation that limits the consumption of new products, although it is also reported that a third of the population is unaware of the same concerning conventional tobacco.
Evolution
- It is observed that there is an increase in the prevalence of passive smoking in Spain.
More than half of non-smokers suffer from passive smoking on terraces. - There have been slight increases in passive smoking at home, in schools, at work and in leisure venues over the last 13 years.
- The emergence of electronic cigarettes (EC) and heated tobacco (HT) as new sources of environmental pollution.
- 4 out of 10 non-smokers are exposed to ambient air contaminated by these products.
