The Effects of Second Hand Smoke

Anyone who smokes knows that cigarettes aren't good for their health. More than 400,000 people each year die from smoking cigarettes. What is equally alarming, however, is the number of non-smokers who are diagnosed with cancer as a result of second-hand smoke.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that an estimated 45 million adults smoke cigarettes in the United States, exposing 126 million non-smoking adults and 22 million children to second-hand smoke.

It is estimated that 3000 people each year die of lung cancer as a result of inhaling second-hand smoke, also known as ETS (environmental tobacco smoke). At least 50,000 deaths occur overall, according to The American Lung Association. These numbers do not include the thousands of people who develop nasal sinus cavity cancer, cervical cancer and bladder cancer from being exposed.

The dangers associated with second-hand smoke has prompted many local communities to adopt smoking bans in public buildings such as restaurants so that patrons are not exposed to the lingering effects of cigarette smoke.

The American Lung Association reported that the second-hand smoke levels in restaurants was found to be two to five times higher than that in a residence. At least 23 states have smoking bans in place.

The Environmental Protection Agency has classified second-hand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, which means it is a dangerous toxic vapor. There are 4000 chemical compounds in second-hand smoke and 200 of them are known to be poisonous, one of which is hydrogen cyanide.

Anyone should be able to see that second-hand smoke would be especially bad for children. And it is.

Children who are born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy generally have a lower birth weight and have a higher risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. The EPA estimates that passive smoking in pregnant women accounts for 150,000 to 300,000 of these occurrences in children under 18 months of age each year.

The EPA also estimates that between 200,000 and 1,000,000 children who suffer with asthma each year, have their condition worsened by inhaling second-hand smoke and it is unknown how many new cases of asthma develop as a result.

Those who have upper respiratory allergies are very sensitive to second-hand smoke as well. The chemicals that are released into the air are especially irritating to those already suffering with restricted breathing.

As strange as it may sound, second-hand smoke can also affect the heart. It is estimated that 35,000 to 62,000 people die every year from heart disease that resulted from inhaling others' cigarette smoke.

Smoking cigarettes has far reaching and dangerous effects for the smoker as well as the non-smoker. Those who smoke should think twice before lighting up the next one. You could be saving the life of a non-smoker along with yourself.

For more information on secondhand smoke, please review the Tobacco Morbidity and Mortality Trend Report as well as our Lung Disease Data publication in the Data and Statistics section of our website at www.lungusa.org, or call the American Lung Association at 1-800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872).about.com: smoking cessation

Surgeon General's report
Mayo Clinic American Lung Association wrongdiagnosis.com