A long time after the ban on public smoking came into force, people in Assam continue to suffer in silence while smokers continue to puff away their cheap cigarettes, breaking the law with impunity. In offices, both government and private, smokers have encountered little restraint from authorities and flouted norms much to the dismay of non-smokers, who are aware of the health risks, not to speak of the inconvenience caused.

People now are more alarmed after a pioneering study revealed that passive smoking is responsible for deaths of innocents, a figure that is quite large in India.

Recently, in a respected survey carried out globally, it was revealed that passive smoking results in 600,000 deaths every year. The number of such deaths is growing in developing and underdeveloped nations where ban on tobacco smoking in public spaces is less implemented.

Speaking to The Assam Tribune, Dr AC Kataki, director of Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute warned about the danger from second hand smoke, describing it as a very serious threat to non-smokers.

"There is more carcinogen in passive smoke compared to what the smoker consumes, and therefore the effects are more dangerous," he remarked. It is very common for passive smokers to develop a range of diseases, including respiratory and other ailments. Some non-smokers can have even cancer after prolonged exposure to passive smoke.

The problem is more acute in cramped spaces like offices and also restaurants because second hand smoke lingers on for a longer time. Many public transports in the State also do not still have mandatory no-smoking signs.

Among the most vulnerable sections affected by second hand smoke are pregnant women and children. The recent survey carried out in 192 countries stated that passive smoking is particularly dangerous for children, who are at a higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome, pneumonia and asthma.

Dr. JN Sarma, head of Paediatrics, GMCH underlined the need for concerted action so that the threat of second hand smoking can be curbed.

Researchers concluded that passive smoking had a large impact on women, killing almost 281,000 worldwide. This is due to the fact that in many parts of the world women are at least 50% more likely to be exposed to cigarettes smoke than men.

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