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Global Survey Finds Secondhand Smoke Threatens Children World Wide 

A new global survey published by the World Health Organization and collaborating American and Canadian Health Agencies finds that young people are facing increasing health risks from secondhand smoke. Health experts meeting at the 2006 International Cancer & Tobacco Control Conferences this month, [July 10-14] in Washington say the survey is a useful tool to understand the impact on children of secondhand smoke -- also called passive smoke or environmental tobacco smoke.

The Global Youth Tobacco Survey focused on 13-15 year olds in 132 countries. Wick Warren of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the survey of school-age respondents paints a disturbing picture. "It shows worldwide about half the kids are exposed to smoke in public places, and that's not good news," he explains. "In some places, in some regions it reaches as high as 80 percent. That's terrible news. The goal is zero percent. So until we reach the goal we have a problem."

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