Passive smoke causes cancer

There is now overwhelming evidence that passive smoking causes cancer, according to World Health Organisation experts.

A study has concluded that second-hand smoke brings an increased risk of 20 to 30 per cent of developing the disease.

The evidence means thousands of cancer deaths can now be linked to passive smoking, making it even more deadly than previously thought.

One of the experts, Sir Richard Doll, who first linked smoking to lung cancer 50 years ago, said: "This is the first time a group of independent scientists have reviewed all the evidence and said there is no question second-hand smoke is a cause of lung cancer."