Effects of Prolonged Exposure to Second-hand Smoke
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns the health effects, diagnosis frequency, and mortality rates related to second-hand smoke exposure as raised by Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin stated that such exposure accounts for one percent of Singapore's disease burden and contributes to various respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. He highlighted that six people die daily from combined smoking-related causes and noted that the Ministry of Health utilizes legislation and education to mitigate these risks. Senior Parliamentary Secretary Amrin Amin also detailed the Health Promotion Board’s efforts in using health ambassadors and print resources to raise public awareness about environmental tobacco smoke. He noted that while specific death counts for second-hand smoke were not immediately available, the Ministry would consider increasing outreach to help the public prevent inhalation.
Transcript
12 Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for Health (a) what are the health effects of prolonged exposure to second-hand smoke; (b) how many diagnoses of conditions related to second-hand smoke exposure are there each year in the past five years; (c) how many people in Singapore die because of second-hand smoke each year in the past five years; and (d) whether the Ministry will start collecting such data if it is currently not available.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health (Mr Amrin Amin) (for the Minister for Health): Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, also known as second-hand smoke, is associated with health conditions similar to those faced by smokers. These include eye, nose and throat irritation, increased risk of respiratory infections, worsening of pre-existing respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. And also, increased risk of heart disease, stroke and some cancers such as breast and lung cancer.
In individuals, it is often not possible to definitively attribute disease conditions specifically to exposure to secondhand smoke, because the individual may also have other risk factors. At the population level, the Global Burden of Disease 2016 study estimates that tobacco use contributes to approximately seven percent 7% of the total disease burden in Singapore, of which 1% is due to second-hand smoke and 6% due to active smoking. Disease burden refers to the number of years of healthy life lost, due to premature death as well as living in ill health. From the same study, six persons die each day from active smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke. The results of the same study in 2010 are similar to the one in 2016.
Tobacco use, including cigarette smoking and second-hand smoke, remains a leading contributor to the burden of disease in Singapore. MOH will continue to monitor the effects of tobacco use, and press on with its multi-pronged approach to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use in Singapore. This includes public education, provision of smoking cessation and tobacco control legislation.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Sir, I thank the Senior Parliament Secretary for the reply. I think many people are aware of the dangers of smoking. But I think very few are now aware of the dangers of secondhand smoke. The Senior Parliament Secretary mentioned a bit about the outreach efforts. So, I am just wondering whether MOH should be increasing our outreach efforts to make sure people are aware of the dangers of second-hand smoke and also what they can do to prevent inhaling second-hand smoke.
Mr Amrin Amin: Currently, HPB has developed online and print resources, example, brochures, posters, to raise awareness on environmental tobacco smoke. And through I Quit roadshows, HPB health ambassadors also share with the smokers and their family members on the harmful health effects of the environmental tobacco smoke and encourage smokers to quit smoking. But we note the suggestion and we will see what we can do to increase outreach in that area.
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: One last query. I have asked actually how many but I think the Senior Parliament Secretary replied with a percentage. Could I just get an absolute number of how many people are actually affected by second-hand smoke in terms of death or diagnosis? I know that the figure in Japan is that 15,000 people die every year because of second-hand smoke. So, I am just wondering whether we have the statistics for Singapore.
Mr Amrin Amin: I apologise, I do not have the exact numbers. I just have the percentages. I can touch base with the Member separately. [Please refer to "Clarification by Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health", Official Report, 2 October 2018, Vol 94, Issue No 84.]