300 million Chinese adults smoke

In China, the proportion of smokers among people 15 years old and above is about 28 percent, with a total number of 300 million people, according to a recent survey on tobacco use in China released by the China Center for Disease Control in Shenzhen on Aug. 17.

The number of adults in China who smoke is seriously high, and people are not quite aware of the harm that smoking and second-hand smoking can do to their health.

The survey is titled "Global Adult Tobacco Survey," and the part on China was co-released by the China Center for Disease Control, World Health Organization and the U.S. Center for Disease Control.

The major finding of the survey is that in China, the prevalence of smoking has slightly reduced, but the number of males who smoke remains at a high level.

The survey revealed the proportion of smokers among the male population is nearly 53 percent, and the proportion of smokers among males between 15 and 69 years old is 54 percent, a slight reduction compared to 2002. The proportion of smokers among the female population is about 2 percent, accounting for nearly 13 million people.

Yang Gonghuan, deputy director of the China Center for Disease Control and director of the National Tobacco Control Office, believes the reason why the proportion of smokers has decreased is mainly because of the improved awareness that people have towards tobacco hazards. However, due to the lack of stronger tobacco-control measures, the reduction in smoking failed to achieve the people's expectations.

By People's Daily Online