Passive smoking: risks underestimated by parents

The risks associated with passive smoking are still poorly understood. INPES points out that "the risks associated with passive smoking remain largely underestimated: only 15% non-smokers fear tobacco-related diseases for themselves"^[1]This lack of knowledge may lead to underestimation of children's exposure to tobacco smoke.^[2].

For some parents, exposure to tobacco smoke is only perceived when it can be seen or smelled^[3]. Smokers have more difficulty perceiving the presence of cigarette odor due to reduced olfactory capacities. Overall, the sensory capacities of smokers, less efficient than those of non-smokers, lead them to perceive children's exposure to tobacco with less acuity. This lower perception on the part of smokers may also be linked to the desire to preserve self-esteem in a context of cognitive dissonance (being a smoker vs. protecting one's children).

The issue of smokers' knowledge of the risks of passive smoking is crucial for reducing children's exposure. Indeed, children are largely dependent on their parents' perception of the dangers of exposure to tobacco smoke.^[4].