The Facts About Tobacco

The Truth About Second-Hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke.

Second-hand smoke is made up of:

• Sidestream smoke that goes directly into the air from the end of a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe.
• Mainstream smoke that is inhaled by the smoker first, then exhaled into the air.

Did you Know?

• A non-smoker in a smoky room is inhaling the same chemicals as a smoker.
• Second-hand smoke has been labelled as a "Class A" cancercausing substance in the United States. Class A is considered the most dangerous type of cancer agent and there is no known safe level of exposure.
• Smoking in a closed-in space such as a car greatly increases the concentration of harmful chemicals produced by secondhand smoke.
• Second-hand smoke contains the same 4,000+ chemicals that are inhaled by a smoker. About 50 of these chemicals are associated with, or are known to cause cancer.
• Some of the toxic and cancer causing agents found in second-hand smoke include hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde and benzene.

The Health Effects of Second-Hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke affects your family differently depending on their age and their health. Second-hand smoke hurts everyone, but it is especially dangerous to little ones because their lungs are still growing and developing. Because they are smaller, babies and children breathe more quickly and take in more harmful chemicals for their size than adults do. In addition, their immune systems, which protect them from getting sick, are less developed and can't protect them as much from tobacco smoke.

Before a baby is born

Second-hand smoke is even harmful to unborn babies.

• Nicotine found in the blood of a pregnant woman who is exposed to second-hand smoke can cross the placental barrier and decrease the blood flow to her unborn baby.
• Nicotine can affect her baby's heart, lungs, digestive system and even central nervous system.
• Carbon monoxide contained in cigarette smoke can affect her baby's growth and may lead to low birth weight.

After a baby is born

• Babies who breathe in second-hand smoke have a higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death.
• Babies and children exposed to second-hand smoke have more frequent lower respiratory tract problems, such as coughs, pneumonia, bronchitis and croup.
• Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, and they will suffer more from it than children of non-smokers who have asthma.
• Second-hand smoke increases the number of ear infections in children.

Children don't have as much control over their world as adults do. Babies and toddlers can't complain about smoke. Even older children may not feel comfortable saying anything or trying to get away from the smoke. This is unfortunate because the health effects of second-hand smoke on children are much worse than for adults.

Many parents don't realize that second-hand smoke may harm their child's behaviour and ability to think things through (cognition). Recently, studies have shown that children who were exposed to tobacco smoke scored lower on tests than children who were not.

Adults are affected, too!

• If you are a non-smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke may increase your risk of getting lung cancer, heart disease, or respiratory problems.
• Second-hand smoke fosters the formation of blood clots that can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
• Second-hand smoke raises your heart rate and damages your heart muscle.
• Second-hand smoke lowers the level of protective HDL-cholesterol in your blood.

Second-hand smoke and your pets

• Some studies have shown that second-hand smoke can cause leukemia (a type of cancer) in cats and that dogs in smoking households have a greater risk of cancer. And your furry friends don't just inhale smoke; the smoke particles are also trapped in their fur and ingested when they groom themselves with their tongues.

The Truth About How Second-Hand Smoke Travels In Your Home

Many people are misinformed about how they can protect their families from second - hand smoke. Do any of the following myths sound familiar?

MYTH #1: If I smoke in another room, I'm not harming anyone.

THE TRUTH: Second-hand smoke spreads from one room to another even if the door of the smoking area is closed. In addition, harmful chemicals can cling to rugs, curtains, clothes and other materials and can usually remain in a room long after someone has smoked there.

MYTH #2: If I open a window in my home or car, I can get rid of most of my second-hand smoke.

THE TRUTH: You may think that by opening a window you are clearing the smoke from a room or your car, but that is not the case. To effectively remove cigarette smoke, you need to increase the air-exchange rate a thousand times to something equal to a gale force wind!

In addition, opening a car or room window can result in air flow back into the room or car which may cause the smoke to be blown directly back at non-smokers.

MYTH #3: If I smoke when my children aren't home or in the car, it can't hurt them.

THE TRUTH: Many parents think that it's alright to smoke when their children aren't around. What they may not know is that second-hand smoke lingers long after they finish a cigarette. In a recent study, researchers found that second-hand smoke can remain in contaminated dust and surfaces, even if smoking took place days, weeks or months earlier.

MYTH #4: If I use an air filter or a fan, my second-hand smoke won't hurt anyone.

THE TRUTH: The sad truth is that even air filters, air purifiers and ventilation systems are not enough. After a smoker leaves a room, chemicals from the second-hand smoke remain behind in the air, on food, furniture, curtains and skin. Most ventilation systems are designed to limit the build-up of carbon monoxide and keep odour down, not to remove smoke.

Source: Health Canada