Study shows smoking damaging children

New research has highlighted the effects of passive smoking on children in the home.

The research was carried out on 164 first-year school pupils in Galway. The effects of second-hand smoke were found in all of the children surveyed.

Environmental scientist Maurice Mulcahy, who carried out the study on behalf of the Department of Health, has called for smoking to be banned in all public places where children have access.

Passive smoking can have worse effects on children than on adults and can often lead to the development of asthma and other respiratory infections, according to the World Health Organisation.