§ Lord Braine of Wheatleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will list those illnesses associated with or caused by (a) smoking and (b) passive smoking. [HL1524]
§ The Minister of State, Department of Health (Baroness Jay of Paddington)Diseases associated with or caused by smoking are as follows: cancer of lung; lip, tongue, mouth, pharynx, larynx; stomach; oesophagus; liver; pancreas; bladder; kidney; cervix uteri; and arteriosclerosis, hypertension, cerebral thrombosis, other cerebrovascular disease, peptic ulcer, osteoporosis, hernia, myocardial degeneration, other respiratory disease, aortic aneurysm, respiratory heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, chronic obstructive lung disease, pneumonia, respiratory tuberculosis, and ischaemic heart disease.
In its recent report1, the Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health largely confirmed the above list and additionally noted an association of smoking with cataracts, periodontal disease and, in pregnancy, miscarriage, low birthweight and perinatal death.
As regards passive smoking, the committee concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke was a cause of lung cancer; ischaemic heart disease; respiratory illness and asthmatic attacks in children; sudden infant death syndrome; and middle ear disease in children.
1Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health: Report: London: HMSO 1998.