Cancer risk from passive exposure to cigarette smoke in the house-hold

ABSTRACT

The case control technique was utilized to estimate cancer risk from passive smoking in the household. A total of 197 cancer cases and a similar number of cancer free cases were included in this study. Cases and controls were matched for age and sex. An overall cancer risk from passive smoking was 1.8995 times in passive smokers than those not passively exposed to cigarette smoke. Adjusting for age, sex, marital status, education and occupation did not change this risk. The risk was generally higher among smokers than among non- smokers. A slight increase of cancer risk was revealed for those passively and actively exposed to cigarette smoke. Elevated risk was also demonstrated for respiratory and other intrathoracic organs, lymphatic and hemopoietic tissue, urinary tract and brain and nervous system