Secondhand Smoke: Avoid the Health Risk There is no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure. Secondhand smoke is harmful to everyone, including those who do not smoke. More than 41,000 non-smoking U.S. adult deaths occur each year from secondhand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also negatively impact the health of children and pets. What It Is Secondhand smoke is the burning of tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, hookahs or pipes, and the smoke exhaled by a person who smokes. There are more than 7,000 chemicals in secondhand smoke and at least 69 are known to cause cancer. Even small levels of exposure can harm your health. How it Harms Health Inhaling secondhand smoke has immediate effects on your body that can last for up to three hours. Secondhand smoke changes the way your heart functions and can damage blood vessels, which increases the risk of a heart attack. Adults who do not smoke but are exposed to secondhand smoke are up to 30% more likely to develop lung cancer and heart disease. Secondhand smoke exposure among children can cause breathing problems, such as asthma, and newborns who are exposed have a higher likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke: Adult vs. Child In non-smoking adults, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of: 1 Stroke 2 Heart attack Coronary heart disease 3 Lung cancer 4 Premature death In children, exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of: 5 Ear conditions (e.g., middle ear disease) 6 Acute respiratory infections (e.g., bronchitis) Asthma Respiratory symptoms (e.g., coughing) Slowed lung growth 7 Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 1 2 3 5 4 6 7 Did You Know? Tobacco products are not the only threat when considering secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke from marijuana has many of the same dangerous chemicals as tobacco smoke and can have mind-altering effects on those nearby who are not smoking. Additionally, vapor from e-cigarettes may expose people near you to nicotine and other chemicals. Protect Yourself and Others Health risks are directly related to the duration and amount of secondhand smoke exposure. The risk of lung cancer increases as the time and level of exposure increases. The only way to completely eliminate secondhand smoke is to remove smoking from your environment. Be aware of your surroundings and avoid places where secondhand smoke is present when possible. Keep indoor spaces, like your home and car, smoke-free to help protect those around you. For help with quitting, click here. Additional Resources Warfighter Wellness – “Thinking About Quitting Tobacco” You Can Quit 2 References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – “Secondhand Smoke” American Cancer Society) – “Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke”
