WHO urges smoking ban at work

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Health Organisation called on Tuesday for a global ban on smoking at work and in enclosed public places.

The United Nations agency said a ban would help limit non-smokers' exposure to second-hand smoke, which can kill through heart disease and serious respiratory and cardiovascular illness.

"The evidence is clear, there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke," said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan in a statement ahead of World No Tobacco Day which will be observed on Thursday for the 18th year.

"Many countries have already taken action. I urge all countries that have not yet done so to take this immediate and important step to protect the health of all," she said.

A number of EU countries, including France, Spain, Ireland and Portugal are among those to have introduced such bans.

The Geneva-based agency said its recommendation was based on three studies on second-hand smoke, two in the United States and one by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

"By July 1, 240 million people worldwide will be protected by smoke-free legislation," said Wayne Kao of the International Union against Cancer, which supports a smoke-free world.

"Unfortunately, that is less than 4 percent of the world population," Kao told a news conference.

In addition to several European countries, New Zealand, Bermuda, Uruguay, and parts of Australia, Canada and the United States have banned smoking in public places, according to Kao.