UM holds workshop on passive smoking’s effect on public health

The University of Macau’s (UM) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) recently organised a workshop on the effect of passive smoking on public health. At the event, six renowned experts and scholars from Japan, mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macao gave presentations and had an in-depth discussion on the topic. Participants in the workshop include Lei Chin Ion, director of the Health Bureau; Cheang Seng Ip, deputy director of the Health Bureau; Tang Chi Hou, director of the Tobacco Prevention and Control Office of the Health Bureau; and representatives of the Smoking Abstention and Good Health Association and the Smoking and Healthy Life Association of Macau.

At the workshop, Dr Kam Tat Ting, a former senior chemist at the Government Laboratory in Hong Kong and professor from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, demonstrated that there are more than 250 toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke and over 70 of them are known to cause cancer. Prof Yu Yaqin, dean of the School of Public Health at Jilin University, said that tobacco smoking causes nearly 6 million deaths every year. Prof Xiang Yutao from UM’s Faculty of Health Sciences, further pointed out that out of the 6 million deaths each year, 1 million is caused by secondhand smoke (SHS).

Prof Yu added that SHS has been classified as class-A carcinogen and research has shown that exposure to SHS significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and even breast cancer. The research results of Prof Jiang Jingmei from the Institute of Basic Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, also illustrated that there is a causative link between smoking and cervical cancer, and that passive smoking increases cervical cancer mortality rate.

Measures in controlling tobacco smoke were also discussed during the workshop. Prof Yoshimura Takefumi, a professor emeritus from the University of Occupational and Environmental Health in Japan, said that dividing areas into smoking and non-smoking sections is not sufficiently effective as research has shown that tobacco smoke can spread to non-smoking sections through the air. Dr He Qun, deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, further added that a more effective way of controlling smoking and SHS is to prevent non-smokers from picking up smoking, and comprehensive strategies, including legislation, would be necessary. Prof Yoshimura agreed with Prof He and added that it is necessary to start launching tabacco-free campaign in primary schools.

At the end of the workshop, Prof Chuxia Deng, dean of the FHS, delivered a speech to thank all of the speakers, guests and participants for participating in the workshop. Prof Ge Wei, associate dean of the FHS, hopes that FHS will organise more workshops on public health in the future.