William Atkins
Tuesday, 10 February 2009 20:24
Science -
Health
Page 1 of 3
According to a U.S. study concerning second-hand smoke and pet health, researchers at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan found that pets are also harmed when they are in the same room as smokers. If you are unwilling to quit for your own health, how about for the health of your own pets who are innocent bystanders to your dangerous habit?
According to the paper “
Pet Owners' Attitudes and Behaviors Related to Smoking and Secondhand Smoke: A Pilot Study,” which was published in the journal
Tobacco Control, Sharon Milberger, Ronald M. Davis, and Amanda L.Holm state that the objective of their study was to:
“investigate pet owners' smoking behavior and policies on smoking in their homes, and the potential for educational interventions to motivate change in pet owners' smoking behavior.”
The researchers, all from the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan, United States, stated before the study was performed that past research substantiates the claims that second-hand smoke (SHS) harms both human and animal health.
However, data on pets who have owners that smoke tobacco related products was not readily available—specifically, the
“percentage of pet owners who smoke or allow smoking in their homes.”
The researchers used an Internet survey that involved 3,293 adult pet owners in the United States.
They measured the smoking behaviors of these pet owners with respect to the other people and animals within their homes, along with the smoking policies in the homes.
They wanted to also measure the potential danger of pet exposure to second-hand smoke.
Over one in four of the smokers said knowing that smoking was bad for their pets would motivate them to stop smoking.
The conclusions of this pilot study is found on page two.
