In the future, the non-smoking areas around children's and youth educational facilities are expected to expand.
Smoking around educational facilities will result in a fine of 100,000 won.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced on the 15th that starting from the 17th, areas within 30 meters of daycare centers, kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools will be designated as no-smoking zones, and violators will be fined up to 100,000 won for smoking in these areas.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare expanded the designated no-smoking areas around daycare centers and kindergartens from the existing 10 meters to within 30 meters through amendments to the National Health Promotion Act last year. After a one-year grace period, the policy will be fully implemented starting from the 17th.
The measure to expand no-smoking areas around educational facilities aims to protect children and adolescents from secondhand smoke and promote health improvement. With this expansion of no-smoking zones, local governments are required to implement related measures, such as installing signs indicating that areas within 30 meters of daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary, middle, and high school facilities are designated as no-smoking zones.
Director Baek Jung-taek of the Health Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, "Expanding no-smoking areas around educational facilities is a necessary measure to protect the health of children and adolescents who are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke," and added, "We will continue to do our best to create a smoke-free environment in the community."
Photo provided by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
✔️Depending on the type of cigarette and the wind, harmful substances can spread up to 100 meters
The harm of secondhand smoke can spread up to 100 meters depending on the wind. In a joint study conducted in 2022 by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and the Yonsei University Environmental Pollution Research Institute, measurements of fine dust concentrations in the air were taken at outdoor smoking areas at distances of 3 meters, 5 meters, and 10 meters. The results showed that even at a distance of 10 meters, the concentrations of fine dust and ultrafine dust from all cigarette products increased compared to before smoking.
The analysis of the cigarette smoke dispersion model according to wind direction showed that harmful substance concentrations significantly decrease from 2 meters. However, when limiting the number of smokers to three and conducting experiments in a breezy environment (1.8 m/s), the results indicated that both liquid-type electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes spread ultrafine dust up to 100 meters away from the smoking area, demonstrating that the situation can vary greatly depending on conditions.
At that time, the research team stated, "Secondhand smoke can have health effects similar to direct smoking because non-smokers inhale the cigarette smoke of smokers."
It has been reported that in the United States and other countries, secondhand smoke is known to be a risk factor for fetal growth restriction, sudden infant death syndrome, childhood bronchial asthma, brain and vascular diseases including otitis media, and cancer.
The 이어 research team stated, "Since harmful substances are also detected in e-cigarettes, which are known to be relatively less stimulating, the effects of secondhand smoke should be carefully considered."
