The government should consider banning smoking in cars where children are present, as it could damage the youngsters’ lungs, medical researchers say.
A Wellington School of Medicine report published today found being in a car with a smoker was equivalent to sitting in a typical smoky bar, even with the smoker’s window wound fully down.
The practice was already banned in some areas of the United States, and was being considered in New South Wales, he said.
"There’s lots of evidence that second hand smoke causes respiratory illnesses in children, so given that the levels are high, then you’d expect (parents) are exposing their children to health risks."
The particulates research follows another study released by the School of Medicine last month, which observed 16,000 cars in Wellington over a two-week period.
A smoker was present in four per cent of the cars, and of those a quarter were also carrying other occupants.
Researchers said that study was likely to have greatly underestimated the prevalence of smoking in cars.
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