What are the health risks associated with children being exposed to secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke exposure is especially dangerous to children because their lungs are still developing. Secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of developing asthma and lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, as well as increasing the frequency of asthma episodes and the severity of symptoms in asthmatic children. An estimated 8,000- 26,000 new asthma cases in children each year and between 150,000 and 300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia in children aged less than 18 months are associated with secondhand smoke exposure. Another 200,000 to 1 million asthmatic children have their condition worsened by exposure to secondhand smoke. Children who breathe secondhand smoke also tend to have more ear infections (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency).
