secondhand smoke news stories on Newser

Honduras Will Bust Smokers ... at Home

Mark Russell — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:14:26 CST

There's no place like home—except for Hondurans looking to have a smoke. Starting yesterday, it is illegal to smoke in any closed or indoor space, or within 6 feet of any non-smoker, even outdoors. And although the law does not explicitly ban smoking in your own home, it does...

Navy Bans Smoking in Submarines

Kevin Spak — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 07:17:34 CDT

If you’re dying for a smoke at 600 feet, the Navy has a message for you: Wear a patch. As of December 31, the US Navy won’t allow any smoking below decks on a submarine, a policy that probably won’t float with the 35-40% of submarine sailors who smoke. But...

Silicon Valley Town Bans Smoking at Home

Rob Quinn — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 04:40:01 CST

A California town has passed legislation that will push many smokers out of their last remaining indoor sanctuary—their home, the New York Times reports. Belmont's law—believed to be the nation's toughest—bans smoking in any residence that shares a floor or ceiling with another. Officials credit the law...

Smokers' Spouses Face Higher Stroke Risk

Matt Cantor — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:26:00 CDT

Having a spouse who smokes significantly increases a nonsmoker’s risk of stroke—especially if the nonsmoker used to light up, a US study shows. The stroke risk for those whose spouse smokes but who never have themselves is raised 42%, while the risk for those who are former smokers jumps...

Portugal PM Gets Heat for Smoking on Plane

Peter Fearon — Fri, 16 May 2008 02:41:34 CDT

Portugal banned smoking in public places five months ago but the country's prime minister appears to have forgotten the rule his own government enacted. Jose Socrates—known to be a smoker in private—stunned passengers and triggered an uproar when he blithely lit up in the first-class cabin of a...

England Douses Public Smoking

Dustin Lushing — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 14:55:24 CDT

The English ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces, including bars, workplaces, and public buildings, went into effect at 6am today. The effort to improve indoor air quality and inconvenience some smokers into quitting will cause grumbling, says the country's chief medical officer, but "on the whole, the majority of...