What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke (also called environmental tobacco smoke) is the combination of sidestream smoke (the smoke given off by the burning end of a tobacco product) and mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker) (1, 2, 3, 4). Exposure to secondhand smoke is also called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. People are exposed to secondhand smoke in homes, cars, the workplace, and public places such as bars, restaurants, and other recreation settings. In the United States, the source of most secondhand smoke is from cigarettes, followed by pipes, cigars, and other tobacco products (4). • How is secondhand smoke exposure measured? Secondhand smoke is measured by testing indoor air for nicotine or other smoke constituents. Exposure to secondhand smoke can be tested by measuring the levels of cotinine (a nicotine by-product in the body) in the nonsmoker’s blood, saliva, or urine (1). Nicotine, cotinine, carbon monoxide, and other evidence of secondhand smoke exposure have been found in
Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke that comes from burning tobacco: • sidestream smoke: smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar • mainstream smoke: smoke that is exhaled by a smoker When non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke it is called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals just like smokers do. The more secondhand smoke you are exposed to, the higher the level of these harmful chemicals in your body. Why is secondhand smoke a problem? Secondhand smoke causes cancer Secondhand smoke is classified as a “known human carcinogen” (cancer-causing agent) by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the US National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a branch of the World Health Organization. Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical co
• Secondhand smoke is composed of sidestream smoke (the smoke released from the burning end of a cigarette) and exhaled mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker). • While secondhand smoke has been referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in the past, the term secondhand smoke better captures the involuntary nature of the exposure. • The 2006 Surgeon Generals report uses the term involuntary in the title because most nonsmokers do not want to breathe tobacco smoke. The term involuntary was also used in the title of the 1986 Surgeon Generals report on secondhand smoke. • Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds. • Secondhand smoke contains many of the same chemicals that are present in the smoke inhaled by smokers. • Because sidestream smoke is generated at lower temperatures and under different conditions than mainstream smoke, it contains higher concentrations of many of the toxins found in cigarette smoke. • The National Toxicology Program estimates
Secondhand smoke comes from both the smoke that smokers exhale (called mainstream smoke) and the smoke floating from the end of the cigarette, cigar, or pipe (called sidestream smoke). It may seem pretty harmless, but secondhand smoke actually contains thousands of chemicals — from arsenic ammonia to hydrogen cyanide — many of which have been proven to be toxic or to cause cancer (called carcinogens). High concentrations of many of these chemicals are found in secondhand smoke. In fact, secondhand smoke significantly increases a person’s risk for: • respiratory infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia) • asthma (secondhand smoke is a risk factor for the development of asthma and can trigger attacks in those who already have it) • coughing, sore throats, sniffling, and sneezing • cancer • heart disease So secondhand smoke doesn’t just impact a person in the future. It can cause problems right now, like affecting someone’s sports performance or ability to be physically active.
• What chemicals are present in secondhand smoke? • Does nicotine present in the smoke causes cancer? • What are the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke? • I have been married to a Chain smoker for 10 years now. What are the health risks of chronic inhalation of second hand smoke? • How does second-hand smoke harm infants and children? • What is Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? • How does second-hand smoke harm in Pregnancy? • How can the cigarette-induced fetal damage be prevented? • How is secondhand smoke exposure measured? • Does exposure to secondhand smoke cause cancer? • Do all smokers get cancer? • What is the impact of second hand smoke on children with asthma? • What is a safe level of secondhand smoke? • How to protect the passive smoker? • What are the benefits of timely quitting smoking? • What is the first thing I need to do once Ive decided to quit? • What medication for smoking would work best for me? • How will I feel when I quit smoking? Will I gain weight? •
