Secondhand smoke refers to the fumes that are emitted when smokers use:
- cigarettes
- pipes
- cigars
- other tobacco products
Both firsthand and secondhand smoke have significant health
impacts. While smoking is the most harmful, both have similar adverse health
effects.
Secondhand smoke is also called:
- side-stream smoke
- environmental smoke
- passive smoke
- involuntary smoke
Nonsmokers who inhale secondhand smoke are affected by chemicals
contained in the smoke.
Tobacco smoke contains about 7,000 chemicals, according to the
World Health Organization (WHO). At least 69 of them are cancerous. Over 250
are harmful in other ways.
Fluids such as blood and urine in nonsmokers might test positive
for nicotine, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. The longer you're exposed to
secondhand smoke, the greater your risk of inhaling these toxic chemicals.
Exposure to secondhand smoke occurs anywhere someone might be
smoking. These locations may include:
- bars
- cars
- homes
- parties
- recreational areas
- restaurants
- workplaces
As the public gets more aware of the dangers of smoking, overall
smoking rates among teens and adults continue to decline. However, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 58 million nonsmokers
in the United States are still exposed to secondhand smoke.
Overall, WHO estimates that 1.2 million premature deaths per year
are related to secondhand smoke worldwide.
This is a serious health concern that can affect both adults and
children exposed to secondhand smoke.
The only way to eliminate such risks is to avoid tobacco smoke
entirely.
Effects in adults
Secondhand smoke exposure is every day in adults.
You might work with others who smoke around you or be exposed
during social or recreational events. You might also live with a smoker in your
family.
In adults, secondhand smoke can cause:
Cardiovascular diseases
Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke had a 25%–30% increased
risk of heart disease and a 25%–30% higher risk of stroke.
Also, smoke exposure can make preexisting cases of high blood
pressure worse.
Respiratory diseases
Adults are more likely to develop asthma and suffer from
respiratory illnesses regularly. If you already have asthma, being around
tobacco smoke might make your symptoms worse.
Lung cancer
Adults who do not directly use tobacco products may develop lung
cancer due to secondhand smoke.
Living or working with someone who smokes can increase your risk
of lung cancer by as much as 30%.
Other cancers
Among the possibilities include:
- breast cancer
- leukemia
- lymphoma
Cancers of the sinus cavity are also possible.
Effects in children
While secondhand smoke exposure can cause various health problems
in adults, children are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of tobacco
smoke. This is because their bodies and organs are still developing.
Children don't have a say when it comes to being around cigarette
smoke. This makes limiting associated risks even more challenging.
The health consequences of secondhand smoke in children include:
Effects on the lungs. This has asthma and delayed lung development.
Respiratory infections. Pneumonia and bronchitis are the most
common. Infections are more common in children who are exposed to secondhand
smoke.
Ear infections. These often occur in the middle ear and are
frequent in nature.
Asthma symptoms such as coughing and wheezing are getting worse.
Children with asthma might also be privy to frequent secondhand smoke exposure
from asthma attacks.
Cold or asthma-like symptoms regularly. Coughing, wheezing,
shortness of breath, sneezing, and a runny nose are symptoms.
Brain tumours. These might develop later in life, too.
Because secondhand smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome,
infants are even more vulnerable to its effects (SIDS).
Pregnant women exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to give
birth to underweight children.
The WHO estimates that 65,000 children die each year due to
secondhand smoke exposure. One of the most effective ways of protecting your
child from secondhand smoke exposure is to stop smoking yourself.
Last but not least
To get the adverse health effects of smoking, you don't have to
smoke a cigarette yourself.
Given the numerous health effects of secondhand smoke, avoidance
is increasingly viewed as a human right.
Many states have enacted laws prohibiting smoke in common areas,
such as restaurants, outside of schools and hospitals, and on playgrounds.
Despite the enactment of no-smoking laws, smoking cessation is the
only way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke fully.
If you live in a multiunit house, cigarette smoke can travel
between rooms and apartments. Being outside in an open area or opening windows
around an indoor smoker does little to stop the effects of secondhand smoke.
If you're around tobacco smoke, the only way you can fully
eliminate exposure is by leaving the affected place entirely.
According to the CDC, the problem is that most secondhand smoke
exposure takes place inside homes and job sites.
In such cases, it's nearly impossible to avoid secondhand smoke as
a nonsmoker. This is especially true for children whose parents smoke inside
houses and cars.
Quitting smoking is the best way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.