Study: Child health measures improve within a year of smoking bans

A new international study has found that after just a year, smoking bans lead to significant improvements in premature births and children’s hospital visits (Source: “Quick Gains After a Smoking Ban,” New York Times, March 31, 2014). 

The new analysis, which was reported in the journal The Lancet last week, combined the results of 11 studies encompassing more than 2.5 million births and nearly 250,000 asthma attacks. Experts called it the best evidence to date that legislation creating smoke-free public places and workplaces improves children’s health, even in the womb.

The results are “very impressive,” said Dr. Brian Mercer, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, who noted that half a million American babies are born prematurely each year.

“If you could prevent 10 percent, you’d prevent nearly 50,000 premature babies in the U.S. alone each year,” said Dr. Mercer, who was not involved in the study.