Secondhand Smoke

Like a lot of people, you may think that other people's tobacco smoke is simply a bit unpleasant. However, it is much worse than that. Secondhand smoke is harmful to health. Scientific evidence now shows a clear link between secondhand smoke and many life threatening conditions. Being exposed to other people's smoke can increase the risk of:

Lung cancer by 24%
Heart disease 25%
Triggering asthma attacks
Developing other breathing or chest problems
Headaches and sickness

Secondhand smoke and children

Young people are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke because their bodies are still developing. They can get breathing problems, middle ear infections and asthma attacks. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have to attend hospital in their first year of life.

Secondhand smoke facts

Secondhand smoke may contain over 4000 chemicals including many which are cancer causing
85% of secondhand smoke is invisible (this means that waving smoke away from your face is pointless)
95% of deaths associated with secondhand smoke are from exposure in the home
Secondhand smoke is hard to sniff out, because 85% of it is odourless
Secondhand smoke can linger in a room for two and half hours, even with an open window
Cot death is five times more likely when there is secondhand smoke around

Secondhand smoke in the car

Driving with the windows open, toxin concentration is 9x higher
Driving with the windows closed but A/C on, toxin concentration is 70x higher
Driving with the windows closed and no A/C, toxin concentration is 200x higher