Is there any safe level of exposure to second hand smoke?
No, there is no safe level of exposure. Two of the known human carcinogens found in second hand smoke have an acceptable exposure limit of zero. top What are the health effects of being exposed to second hand smoke? Exposure to second hand smoke, even for brief periods, can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, coughing and wheezing. Second hand smoke can seriously intensify symptoms in people with allergies or asthma. Long term exposure causes heart disease and cancer. And remember, even smokers breathe in second hand smoke, in addition to the smoke they inhale directly. The body’s ability to take in and use oxygen is decreased by breathing in second hand smoke. It can affect a non-smoker’s lung capacity similar to direct smoking of 1 to 10 cigarettes a day. top Why does second hand smoke cause cancer? Some chemicals in second hand smoke directly cause cancer. Others help the cancer get started while others speed up its development. Oth
