Passive smoking risk worse than thought

[dArKeR]

Study: Danger of heart disease double previous estimates

LONDON - Passive smoking may be much more dangerous than scientists had thought, researchers said on Wednesday in new study that is likely to boost demand for a ban on smoking in public places.

Earlier research into the effects of second-hand smoke had focused on non-smokers living with smokers. Scientists in Britain studied exposure to passive smoke by measuring a breakdown product of tobacco smoke called cotinine in the blood of non-smokers.

They found high concentrations of blood cotinine levels were associated with a 50-60 percent higher risk of coronary heart disease.

http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5327402/