Ten die each week from passive smoking

TEN people die every week in Ireland from the effects of passive smoking according to the first-ever European study to be released today.

But a health expert has warned that the ban on smoking in public places, such as pubs and restaurants, will not directly affect these numbers as most passive smoking happens in people's homes.

The figures show that for every eight smokers in Europe that die from tobacco-related illness, one adult is killed by the smoke that pollutes their air.