California declares passive smoke a toxic pollutant

CALIFORNIA has declared passive smoke a toxic air pollutant on a par with diesel exhausts, arsenic and benzene because of its link to breast cancer.

The unanimous decision by the state Air Resources Board relied on a September report that found a sharply increased risk of breast cancer in women exposed to secondhand smoke.

The report also links drifting smoke to premature births, asthma and heart disease, as well as other cancers and numerous health problems in children.