Manchester has one of the lowest life expectancy in the whole of England, largely due to smoking related disease such as cancer and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK¹. In Greater Manchester alone, smoking accounts for over 14,500 deaths per year2. This is the equivalent of 14 deaths per day².

Smoking is a major cause of a number of health concerns, including heart disease, cancers and reproductive & respiratory problems³.

72% of the adult population do not smoke (UK)1. In Manchester, 64% of the adult population do not smoke⁴.

More and more people, including smokers, want smoke free premises, according to local opinion polls⁵.

For more information on the direct effects of smoking and how to quit please click here.

Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals including over 60 known carcinogens (cancer causing agents)¹.

People who do not smoke are put at risk from second hand smoke. An estimated 12,000 UK non-smokers die annually from exposure to second hand smoke6. It has been estimated that over 90 of these are in Manchester⁷.

It only takes 30 minutes exposure to second hand smoke to have a significant affect on the body.

Scientific studies have consistently found that second hand smoke increases the risk of contracting fatal illnesses, such as lung cancer and heart disease³.

Second hand smoke has also been associated with a variety of health problems in children including, cot death, chronic middle ear infections and increased risk of respiratory problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia⁸.

Ventilation systems may remove the smell of tobacco smoke but it does not eliminate all the cancer causing particles and gases from the air6. The best protection to those who do not smoke is completely smoke free areas⁹.

For more information on the effects of second hand smoke please click here