Where are children particularly exposed to second-hand smoke?
• The most important determinants of passive smoke exposure in children are whether parents or carers smoke, and whether smoking is allowed in the home. • Children who live in homes where someone smokes on most days are exposed to about seven times more smoke than children who live in smoke-free homes. Someone smokes on most days in the home in 88% of households where both parents smoke; 81% of homes where only the mother smokes; and 65% of homes were only the father smokes. • Compared to children whose parents do not smoke, passive smoke exposure in children is typically three times greater if the child’s father smokes; over six times greater if the mother smokes; and nearly nine times greater if both parents smoke. • Compared to more socio-economically privileged children, those from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to be exposed to smoke, which is attributed to heavier smoking inside the family home and in other places visited by the children. • However, the overall level o
