What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke refers to tobacco smoke that is passively breathed in by people in the vicinity of a person who is smoking. Terms that have been used to refer to secondhand smoke are passive smoking, involuntary smoking, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke from the tobacco product itself (termed sidestream smoke) and exhaled smoke from the smoker (known as mainstream smoke).
When a nonsmoker inhales secondhand smoke, he or she is exposed to the same toxins and chemicals, including nicotine, as the smoker.
Exposure of children to secondhand smoke also increases their health risks; and children are especially vulnerable to the effects of environmental tobacco smoke. About 35% of U.S. children live in homes where smoking occurs regularly. Research has shown that 50% to 75% of children in the U.S. have detectable levels of cotinine (the breakdown product of nicotine) in their blood, so even children who do not live with smokers may be at risk for adverse effects of secondhand smoke. Chemicals from tobacco smoke inhaled by a nursing mother are also known to reach breast milk.
What causes secondhand smoke?
Cigarettes are the most common sources of secondhand smoke, followed by cigarettes and pipe smoke. People can be exposed to environmental tobacco smoke anywhere - in their homes, in the workplace, and in recreational settings.
What are the health risks of secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke carries many health risks. At least 250 harmful chemicals have been identified in secondhand smoke, including at least 50 carcinogens (chemicals that are known to cause cancer). Just some of the dangerous chemicals present in secondhand smoke include vinyl chloride, cadmium, benzene, arsenic, and ethylene oxide.
Secondhand smoke is known to cause cancer. It has been classified as a "known human carcinogen" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is also associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases as well as other serious health conditions
Lung cancer and secondhand smoke
Passive smoking is an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer. Research has shown that nonsmokers who reside with a smoker have a 20% to 30% increase in risk for developing lung cancer when compared with nonsmokers who do not reside with a smoker. An estimated 3,400 lung cancer deaths that occur each year in the U.S. are attributable to passive smoking.
Cardiovascular disease and secondhand smoke
Like cigarette smoking itself, secondhand smoke is a significant risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and heart attack. An estimated 46,000 deaths from heart disease in non-smokers who live with smokers occur every year in the U.S.
Other lung diseases and secondhand smoke
Coughing, chest congestion, and decreased lung function can also occur in those exposed to passive smoke. Babies exposed to secondhand smoke can also develop serious respiratory infections. In the U.S., passive smoking is believed to cause 150,000 to 300,000 lung infections (such as pneumonia and bronchitis) in children younger than 18 months of age each year.
Secondhand smoke and other effects on children
In addition to the risk of pneumonia and respiratory infections in babies exposed to secondhand smoke (see above), passive smoke is known to increase the severity of asthma in children with this condition. About 750,000 middle ear infections in children are also estimated to occur each year as a result of exposure to secondhand smoke. Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Source:http://www.cigarettesflavours.com/cigarettes-flavors/smoking-remains-at-21-since-2005-54-of-children-exposed-to-secondhand-smoke/
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