Secondhand smoke causes or contributes to serious health problems, including:
- Cancer. Secondhand smoke is a known risk factor for lung cancer.
- Heart disease. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by about 25% to 30%.
- Chronic lung disease. Exposure to secondhand smoke even for a short time causes measurable decreases in lung function. This can lead to chronic lung disease.
Why is second hand smoke worse than first hand?
THC can be passed to infants and children through secondhand smoke, and people exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke can experience psychoactive effects, such as feeling high. 3,4 Recent studies have found strong associations between reports of having someone in the home who uses marijuana (e.g., a parent, relative, or caretaker) and the child having detectable levels …
Is second hand smoke worse than first hand?
· Long-term effects from exposure to second-hand smoke include increased risk of: coronary heart disease (risk increased by 25-30%) lung cancer (risk increased by 20-30%) and other cancers. stroke (risk increased by 20-30%) increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing problems.
Is second hand smoke more deadly than first hand smoke?
· Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard causing more than 41,000 deaths per year. It can cause or make worse a wide range of damaging health effects in children and adults, including lung cancer, respiratory infections and asthma.
How is second-hand smoke worse than first-hand smoke?
Where is secondhand smoke a problem? At work. The workplace is a major source of SHS exposure for many adults. The Occupational Safety and Health... In public places. Everyone can be exposed to SHS in public places where smoking is allowed, such as some restaurants,... At home. Making your home ...
Is second hand smoke worse than smoking?
Side-stream smoke is more toxic than mainstream smoke, as it has much higher concentrations of cancer-causing substances. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Just 30 minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke can cause heart damage similar to that of an everyday smoker.
How long does it take for second hand smoke to affect you?
Studies have shown that damage from secondhand smoke occurs in as little as five minutes: After five minutes: Arteries becomes less flexible, just like they do in a person who is smoking a cigarette.
Is second hand smoke that bad?
Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which hundreds are toxic and about 70 can cause cancer. There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure; even brief exposure can be harmful to health.
How far away from secondhand smoke is safe?
Too Close for Comfort If so, your exposure to the particles produced by secondhand smoke could be even greater, significantly increasing your risk for health concerns. With no more than 5 feet between you and a smoker, we found the density of .
How can you protect yourself from second hand smoke?
The Surgeon General has concluded that the only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100% smoke-free environments. Opening a window, sitting in a separate area, or using ventilation, air conditioning, or a fan cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.
How do you get rid of secondhand smoke?
Because of these effects, it is essential that you are diligent about controlling the amount of smoke in your home.Open the Windows. One of the easiest ways to control secondhand smoke in your home is to open up your windows and let in some fresh air. ... Use an Air Purifier. ... Getting Rid of the Smell.
Is the smell of cigarette smoke harmful?
Inhaling nicotine and other toxic chemicals in cigarette smoke, either firsthand as a smoker or secondhand as a non-smoker, may cause illnesses like heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.
Is 3rd hand smoke?
Thirdhand smoke is residual nicotine and other chemicals left on indoor surfaces by tobacco smoke. People are exposed to these chemicals by touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in the off-gassing from these surfaces.
Who is most affected by secondhand smoke?
Secondhand Smoke and ChildrenSecondhand smoke is especially harmful to young children. ... Secondhand smoke exposure may cause a buildup of fluid in the middle ear, resulting in 790,000 doctor's office visits per year, as well as more than 202,000 asthma flare-ups among children each year.More items...
Can a mask prevent second hand smoke?
2. Use a Smoke Filter Mask. If you can't avoid secondhand smoke in public places, avoid breathing it in by covering your mouth in smoky areas. A filter mask, such as the N95 respirator mask, which is shown to block 95% of air particles,2 is a handy and lightweight method to prevent exposure.
How long does cigarette smoke linger in a room?
Opening windows and doors or smoking in another room in the house doesn't protect people. Smoke can linger in the air for 2 to 3 hours after you've finished a cigarette, even with a window open. Also, even if you limit smoking to one room, the smoke will spread to the rest of the house where people will inhale it.
Does secondhand smoke stay on clothes?
Smoke also sticks to people and their clothing, furniture, toys, and carpets. This "thirdhand smoke" can't be easily washed away with soap and water. Kids who touch surfaces with thirdhand smoke on them will absorb the dangerous chemicals through their skin and breathe them into their lungs.
What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke (sometimes called passive smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, or involuntary smoke) is a mixture of sidestream smoke (the smoke...
How is secondhand smoke exposure measured?
Secondhand smoke exposure can be measured by testing indoor air for respirable (breathable) suspended particles (particles small enough to reach th...
Does secondhand smoke contain harmful chemicals?
Yes. Many of the harmful chemicals that are in the smoke inhaled by smokers are also found in secondhand smoke ( 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 ), including so...
Does secondhand smoke cause cancer?
Yes. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. National Toxicology Program, the U.S. Surgeon General , and the International Agency for R...
What are the other health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke is associated with disease and premature death in nonsmoking adults and children ( 3 , 7 ). Exposure to secondhand smoke irrita...
How can you protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke?
The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking in indoor workplaces and public places and by creating smoke...
Do electronic cigarettes emit secondhand smoke?
Electronic cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes, vape pens, vapes, and pod mods) are battery-powered devices designed to heat a liquid, which typic...
What is being done to reduce nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke?
On the federal level, several policies restricting smoking in public places have been implemented. Federal law prohibits smoking on airline flights...
What are the health effects of secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke damages the body in many different ways. Adults exposed to secondhand smoke may experience: 1 Cardiovascular (heart, veins and arteries) disease like high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, heart attack or stroke. 2 Lung problems like chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) and asthma. 3 Increased risks of lung cancer and cancers in the brain, bladder, stomach, breast and more. 4 Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to experience: 5 Frequent coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath or other breathing problems. 6 Frequent ear infections. 7 Frequent and more severe asthma attacks. 8 Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. 9 Damage to eyes (like cataracts) and teeth (like tooth decay). 10 Learning and behavior problems. 11 SIDS ( sudden infant death syndrome ).
What are the symptoms of secondhand smoke?
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to experience: Frequent coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath or other breathing problems. Frequent ear infections. Frequent and more severe asthma attacks. Respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia. Damage to eyes (like cataracts) and teeth (like tooth decay).
How to reduce secondhand smoke inhalation?
If you are regularly near secondhand smoke, you can reduce the danger by: Moving away from the smoker and finding a smoke-free place. Making sure guests to your home know they cannot smoke inside.
Can you be tested for exposure to second hand smoke?
Most people who inhale secondhand smoke are not tested for exposure. If you regularly breathe in someone else’s smoke, your doctor may test your saliva (spit), urine or blood for amounts of inhaled nicotine. Your healthcare provider also may test your lung (pulmonary) function to measure damage.
Can children leave a smoke filled room?
Infants, children and pets : Young children and animals can’t always choose to leave a smoke-filled room. The constant exposure increases the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Does smoking affect babies?
Pregnant women: Secondhand smoke affects unborn children and their mothers. Lower amounts of oxygen available for the baby can increase fetal heart rates or lower the birth weight. Women may experience miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery or ectopic pregnancy.
How long does it take for secondhand smoke to damage?
Studies have shown that damage from secondhand smoke occurs in as little as five minutes:
What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke (sometimes called passive smoke, environmental tobacco smoke, or involuntary smoke) is a mixture of sidestream smoke (the smoke from the burning tip of a cigarette or other smoked tobacco product) and mainstream smoke (smoke exhaled by a smoker that is diluted by the surrounding air) ( 1 – 3 ).
How does secondhand smoke affect the heart?
Exposure to secondhand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful effects on a person’s heart and blood vessels. It increases the risk of heart disease by about 25 to 30% ( 3 ). In the United States, secondhand smoke is estimated to cause nearly 34,000 heart disease deaths each year ( 10 ). Exposure to secondhand smoke also increases the ...
What is an electronic cigarette?
Electronic cigarettes (also called e-cigarettes, vape pens, vapes, and pod mods) are battery-powered devices designed to heat a liquid, which typically contains nicotine, into an aerosol for inhalation by a user . Following inhalation, the user exhales the aerosol ( 12 ).
Can you smoke in your car with the windows down?
not allowing anyone to smoke in your car, even with the windows down. making sure the places where your children are cared for are tobacco free. teaching children to avoid secondhand smoke. seeking out restaurants, bars, and other places that are smokefree (if your state still allows smoking in public areas)
Is it safe to smoke a second hand?
Being exposed to secondhand smoke slows the growth of children’s lungs and can cause them to cough, wheeze, and feel breathless ( 3, 7, 10 ). There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even low levels of secondhand smoke can be harmful.
What are the chemicals in secondhand smoke?
Benzo [ α ]pyrene. 1,3– butadiene (a hazardous gas) Cadmium (a toxic metal) Formaldehyde. Acetaldehyde. Many factors affect which chemicals and how much of them are found in secondhand smoke.
Where does second hand smoke come from?
In the United States, most secondhand smoke comes from cigarettes, followed by pipes, cigars, and other smoked tobacco products.
How much has anti-smoking gone down?
After three years, they had gone down by 36%. Since 1999, anti-smoking laws have proliferated so quickly that 70 percent of the American workforce now works in buildings with a smoke-free policy. As a result, workplace productivity has been proven to increase and absenteeism has been proven to decrease.
Is secondhand smoke bad for you?
There seems to be general agreement that secondhand smoke is bad. The case against secondhand smoke (SHS) as a health danger has been made, emphatically, in over 30 U.S. Surgeon General’s reports written since 1964. Sufficient studies have been performed that link secondhand smoke to cancer in non-smokers exposed to it that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have all classified SHS as a “known human carcinogen.” All of these organizations have declared secondhand smoke bad, and most lawmakers have rushed to agree, and to pass laws to eliminate secondhand smoke from workplaces and public buildings.
What are the long term effects of second hand smoke?
Long-term effects from exposure to second-hand smoke include increased risk of: increased risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other breathing problems. Breathing in second-hand smoke makes the blood stickier, meaning there is an increased risk of blood clots forming, even with brief exposure.
How long does second hand smoke last?
If you only smoke in one area of your home the harmful chemicals will spread rapidly from room to room and can linger for up to 5 hours.
Why are children more sensitive to second hand smoke?
They're even more sensitive to smoke than adults because their bodies are young and still developing.
What happens if you smoke while pregnant?
angina. complete heart failure. In pregnant women exposed to second-hand smoke, there is an increased risk of complications during the pregnancy and after the birth. The most likely risk is that your baby could weigh less than expected.
Is second hand smoke harmful to babies?
Pregnant women exposed to second-hand smoke will pass on harmful chemicals to their babies. Second-hand smoke is also particularly harmful for children , and others with long-term heart and/or breathing conditions.
Is second hand smoke dangerous?
People exposed to second-hand smoke face the same dangers as smokers themselves. They too inhale the same poisonous gases and thousands of toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Their risk of developing smoking-related diseases will also increase.
What are the risks of smoking in children?
Research shows that babies and children exposed to a smoky atmosphere are likely to have increased risk of: 1 breathing problems, illnesses and infections 2 reduced lung function 3 wheezing illnesses and asthma 4 sudden and unexpected death in infancy (SUDI) 5 certain ear, nose and throat problems, in particular middle ear disease
How many deaths are caused by second hand smoke?
Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard causing more than 41,000 deaths per year. It can cause or make worse a wide range of damaging health effects in children and adults, including lung cancer, respiratory infections and asthma.
How much higher is second hand smoke in restaurants?
Levels of secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars were found to be 2-5 times higher than in residences with smokers, and 2-6 times higher than in office workplaces. 4. Being employed in a workplace where smoking is prohibited is associated with a reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked per day and an increase in the success rate ...
How long does thirdhand smoke last?
Thirdhand smoke occurs when cancer-causing residue from tobacco smoke sticks to surfaces such as carpets and walls. Residue lingers for weeks-to-months and can re-enter the air. Children and pets may be most vulnerable.
Does second hand smoke affect lung cancer?
Reduced progression-free survival (the length of time during and after treatment when the cancer does not grow or spread). Simply put: lung cancer patients exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to die than patients not exposed.
How many deaths from secondhand smoke in children?
It also causes 430 sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) deaths in the U.S. annually. 7
Is second hand smoke carcinogenic?
Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. 2
Is secondhand smoke a cause of stroke?
The report also concluded that secondhand smoke is a definitive cause of stroke. 1. There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and even short-term exposure potentially can increase the risk of heart attacks. 2. Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, ...
How to protect non smokers from SHS?
The only way to fully protect non-smokers from exposure to SHS indoors is to prohibit all smoking in that indoor space or building. Separating smokers from non-smokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot keep non-smokers from being exposed to SHS.
What is the definition of mainstream smoke?
Mainstream smoke: The smoke exhaled by a person who smokes.
Can smoking in cars cause toxins?
Americans spend a great deal of time in cars, and if someone smokes there, the toxins can build up quickly – even when the windows are open or the air-conditioner is on. Again, this can be especially harmful to children.
Is it bad to go smoke free?
Some businesses might be afraid to ban smoking, but there’s no strong evidence that going smoke-free is bad for business.
Is smoking allowed in public places?
Everyone can be exposed to SHS in public places where smoking is allowed, such as some restaurants, shopping centers, public transportation, parks, and schools. The Surgeon General has suggested people choose smoke-free restaurants and businesses, and let owners of businesses that are not smoke-free know that SHS is harmful to your family’s health.
Can you smoke in a workplace?
The Surgeon General has said that smoke-free workplace policies are the only way to prevent SHS exposure at work. Separating people who smoke from those who don't, cleaning the air, and ventilating the building cannot prevent exposure if people still smoke inside the building. An extra bonus of workplace smoking restrictions, other than protecting those who don't smoke, is that they may also encourage people who do to smoke less, or even quit.
Do non smokers take in nicotine?
Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in nicotine and toxic chemicals the same way people who smoke do. The more SHS you breathe, the higher the levels of these harmful chemicals in your body.
What are the symptoms of second hand vaping?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, potential symptoms of exposure to secondhand vaping aerosol may be similar to symptoms of exposure to any airborne pollutants and can include: Coughing or wheezing. Respiratory infections. Inflammation in the throat. Reduced lung function.
What are the symptoms of vaping?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, potential symptoms of exposure to secondhand vaping aerosol may be similar to symptoms of exposure to any airborne pollutants and can include: 1 Coughing or wheezing 2 Respiratory infections 3 Inflammation in the throat 4 Reduced lung function 5 Aggravated asthma and allergy symptoms
Do vapes emit nicotine?
When used, vapes can emit significant amounts of nicotine into the air, though not always as much as traditional cigarettes. However, the nicotine levels in the secondhand vapors from e-cigarettes are high enough to cause potential involuntary nicotine exposure to non-vapers in the same room ( Czogala, et. al, 2014 ).
Is second hand smoke harmful?
Fortunately, e-cigarettes do not emit vapor when they are not being used. Moreover, studies have found that secondhand exposure to these vapors is not as harmful as secondhand ...
Is vaping liquid dangerous?
Vape liquids may not contain the wide range of dangerous chemicals present in traditional cigarettes.
Is vaping a carcinogen?
There is no combustion, or burning, involved in vaping, meaning that people that vape “smoke” is free of many carcinogens found in cigarette smoke. Vapes do not create the harmful tar that causes cigarettes to be so hazardous to public health. Vape liquids may not contain the wide range of dangerous chemicals present in traditional cigarettes.
Is it safe to eat nicotine?
Some may even contain no nicotine at all. These liquids are typically made up of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin to vaporize the nicotine. Both compounds are generally recognized as safe for consumption in small amounts, though contact with them may irritate the skin, eyes or respiratory system.
What was the purpose of the ban on smoking in public places?
The purpose of the ban on smoking in public places, however, was to protect non-smokers. It was thus based on nothing?
Who first mooted the tobacco/lung disease connection?
I remember hearing Sir Richard Doll, the scientist who first mooted a tobacco/lung disease connection, saying that it wouldn't worry him at all to sit in a room full of smokers.
When did OSHA look into ETS?
In 1991 NIOSH { OSHA' research group} Looked into ETS although at the time they recommended reducing ETS exposure they found the studies lacking.
Is second hand smoke harmful?
My understanding is that only one study has shown that second hand smoke is harmful. That study was shown to be flawed and was discredited.
Do smokers think they are polite?
So while smokers think/pretend they are being polite. I am sure there are many out there that make friends and loved ones just deal with smoke in the face and smoke in the air space.
Is electronic cigarette smoke good?
Electronic cigarettes and personal vaporizers are definitely top notch in my book. You avoid all the problems of traditional cigarettes. I made the switch after smoking for more than a decade. Psychologically, my cravings are satisfied by the ritual of smoking, inhaling, exhaling, producing a water vapor that resembles smoke but doesn't have an odor and physically my body gets the nicotine that it craves.
Does second hand smoke cause lung cancer?
Therefore, you can see any concern of second hand smoke causing lung cancer is highly questionable.”. Note that the Relative Risk (RR) of lung cancer for persons drinking whole milk is 2.14 and all cancers from chlorinated water ranked at 1.25. These are higher risks than the average ETS risk.
