Tobacco.org

Bidi habit poses hidden health risk 

The first worldwide study to compile existing information about bidi consumption and manufacture - and the health effects of smoking and producing bidis - was published last week.

The report, titled Bidi Smoking and Public Health, reveals that India, home to the world's largest market of bidi consumers and producers, has more than 100 million bidi smokers. Of these, 2.3 per cent are children. The study was carried out over a five-year period and developed by the Healis - Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health based in Mumbai and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

It reported that 700,000 of the 800,000 tobacco-related deaths in India each year were caused by bidi smoking.

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