Within a few short years, girls in Europe have be－come heavier smokers than boys according to a
British study presented (递交) last week to an international conference on smoking.
     Antismoking activists (积极分子) at the second Tobacco or Health conference in the Canary Islands
pointed out that while adults were giving up smoking in ever growing numbers, more and more young
people were taking up the habit, particularly girls.
     One in four 15-year-olds is a regular smoker, according to a study made in 27 countries in Europe
and the United States, Canada and Israel-by Edinburgh University together with the World Health
Organization.
     In Western Europe, girls were more likely than boys to smoke. In Germany or in England, one third of
the girls were smokers compared to one in four boys. In Eastern Europe, the girls "still fall behind" those in the Western Europe, but were "catching up" quickly, said the study.
     The study dealt with the behavior of 15-year-olds in seven European countries over four-year period
between 1986 and 1998.
     The percentage of young women smoking went from 17 percent to 36 percent in Austria, from 17
percent to 28 percent in Norway, from 21 percent to 28 percent in Hungary.
     In the seven countries and regions-Austria, Fin－land, Hungary, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and
Wales-more girls smoked than boys in 1998, with the exception of Hungary.