On Wednesday (November 17), Statistics Canada released a report showing that the prevalence of asthma among children aged 2 to 7 has declined from 13 per cent in 2001 to 10 per cent this year, its lowest level in more than a decade.
Smoking bans and fewer smokers have contributed to this recent development, along with declining rates of upper respiratory and ear infections, the report contends.
The percentage of children regularly exposed to tobacco smoke at home has decreased, as well as the percentage of children aged 2 to 3 who live with at least one parent who smoked.
Further studies will be forthcoming, but all indications point to children’s reduced exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke as one of the main reasons for improved respiratory health.