Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control

Cancer

Smoking Behaviour of Canadians
Cycle 2, 1996/97 (January 1999, No. 1)

Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Home Exposure of Children to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)

In 1996/97, an estimated 33% of children in Canada under the age of 12 were regularly exposed to ETS in their home. The percentage varied widely by province (Figure 1.9-1). Exposure of children was lowest in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta, and highest in Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan.

Cycle 2 of the National Population Health Survey (NPHS) did not directly assess concerns about smoking around children in the home. However, respondents were asked whether they agreed or disagreed that "pregnant women, and others living with them, should not smoke in the home during the pregnancy". This question asks about concerns both with active smoking by pregnant women and passive smoking within the home. Eighty-nine percent of smokers and 97% of non-smokers agreed with this statement (Figure 1.9-2). Female current smokers (particularly those over 25) were less likely to agree than were male current smokers (84% vs. 93% respectively).

Smoking in the Workplace

In 1996/97, 73% of daily smokers reported either a total or partial restriction on smoking in their workplace. A higher percentage of female smokers than male smokers (81% and 67% respectively) reported that they worked in a location that restricts smoking, either fully or partially (Figure 1.9-3). This difference between males and females was seen in all regions of Canada. However, daily smokers of both sexes in Ontario were more likely to report workplace smoking restrictions than smokers in other regions.

When asked whether non-smokers should have smoke-free work areas, 88% of current smokers (90% of female and 86% of male smokers) and 95% of non-smokers (of both sexes) agreed (Figure 1.9-2).

Concerns about Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Canadians expressed a high degree of concern about ETS. Although non-smokers were more likely to express these concerns, they were shared by very substantial proportions of smokers. For example, non-smokers were more likely than current smokers to answer "yes" when asked, "Do you ever feel the unpleasant effects from second-hand smoke?" (Figure 1.9-2). Nevertheless, 41% of smokers (35% of male smokers; 48% of female smokers) reported experiencing the unpleasant effects of environmental tobacco smoke.

When asked whether "smokers should ask permission before smoking in the presence of others", 94% of non-smokers and 83% of smokers agreed. More female current smokers agreed (87%) than male current smokers (79%). Agreement with this statement did not vary by age. There was also little variability across regions, except that Quebec smokers (70%) were much less likely than smokers in other provinces to agree that a smoker should ask permission before lighting up (percent of smokers agreeing in other regions ranged from 84-91%). Interestingly, Quebec smokers were more likely than smokers in other regions to report being bothered by ETS (45% in Quebec vs. 35-40% in other regions).