Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, passive smoke, and tobacco smoke pollution is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by a smoker and smoke from the lit end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. It contains more than 7,000 chemicals including at least 70 known carcinogens (cancer causing substances). People exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for many negative health conditions.
What are the dangers?
Adults
In nonsmoking adults, secondhand smoke:
- Can cause lung cancer
- Can cause cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke.
- Is associated with chronic lung conditions such as asthma and bronchitis
Children
Because of their developing lungs, children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke. It is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their own homes. A child who spends an hour in a room filled with secondhand smoke breathes in as many harmful chemicals as a person who smokes 10 or more cigarettes.
Secondhand smoke may increase:
- An infant’s risk for low birthweight if mother is exposed to secondhand smoke during pregnancy
- An infant’s risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Risk of severe infections of the lower respiratory tract, such as bronchitis and pneumonia
- Risk of developing asthma
- Risk of ear infections
What are common health problems caused by secondhand smoke?
- Eye and nose irritation
- Headache
- Cavities
- Reduced lung function
- Sore throat
- Coughing and wheezing
How can I protect myself and my family from secondhand smoke?
- If you smoke, stop. The Florida Department of Health in Santa Rosa County, in conjunction with West Florida Area Health Education Centers (AHEC), offers three ways to quit smoking and all of them are free. These solutions are available to ALL residents of Santa Rosa County.
- Do not allow smoking in your home.
- Do not allow smoking in your vehicle.
- NEVER allow smoking around your children.
- Do not allow smoking around your parents or other senior citizens.