A survey on attitudes towards passive smoking among schoolchildren and students in Switzerland

The attitudes and reactions to passive smoking as well as the attitudes to active smoking have been investigated among schoolchildren and students in Zurich. 183 13-year-old children, 203 16-year-old children, and 367 23-year-old students were interviewed by a questionnaire. The most interesting results are as follows: -- Significantly more of the younger children (81%) than of the elder children (70%) and the students (70%) dislike passive smoking. -- Significantly more nonsmokers dislike passive smoking than smokers. -- The subjects whose parents smoke dislike passive smoking less than the subjects whose parents do not smoke. -- 80% of the students, 64% of the elder children, and 82% of the younger children complain of one or more kinds of irritations due to passive smoking. The most common impairment is eye irritation, followed by cough and nose irritation. -- More nonsmokers complain of irritations than smokers. -- There is no significant difference between girls and boys as for the reactions to passive smoking.