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July 26, 2006
The Facts About Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke has received increased attention in the media recently. In late June the Surgeon General released a new report titled The Health Effects of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke confirming the dangerous affects of secondhand smoke on adults and children both in the work and home environment.
Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished, and causes approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 to 62,000 heart disease deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year.
The Surgeon General’s report had six major conclusions:
- Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults that do not smoke.
- Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
- Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
- Scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk free level of exposure to SHS.
- Millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to SHS in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
- Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to SHS; separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to SHS.
Secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace
With no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke it’s imperative that state and local officials take appropriate steps to protect public health in the workplace. An effective way to do that is to pass a comprehensive smokefree air law that covers all workplaces, including restaurants and bars. The popularity of smokefree air laws across the country is increasing as Americans demand safer working environments and elected officials take steps to provide a better quality of life for their constituents. Currently, 14 states including California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, have already passed strong smokefree air laws.1 This November, voters in Arizona, Ohio and Nevada will have the chance to vote on similar measures.
In January, the American Lung Association released its annual State of Tobacco Control report card grading states and the Federal government in several key tobacco control policy areas, including smokefree air. Click here to see the report and find out how your state ranks.
What you can do to protect yourself and your family
Smokefree Zone: Declare your home a smokefree zone. No level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe. Children are especially vulnerable to other people’s smoke, suffering acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, more sever asthma and ear infections as a result. Do not allow smoking in your home, or ask smokers to take it outside.
Travel Healthy: Consider traveling/vacationing in smokefree cities or states. Stay in a hotel that has gone smokefree, like the Westin or Marriott2, who are making an effort to provide a healthier environment for their customers.
Get Involved: If your state of city doesn’t have a comprehensive smokefree air law, help to advocate for one. Earlier this year the American Lung Association kicked off its Smokefree Air 2010 Challenge calling on state and local policymakers to pass and strengthen smokefree air laws. Click here to get involved with the challenge.
For more information about secondhand smoke click here.
1 Montana’s law will take full effect October 1, 2009. Utah’s law will take full effect January 1, 2009. The District of Columbia’s law will take full effect January 1, 2007. Puerto Rico’s law will take effect in March 2007.
2 On July 19, 2006 Marriott announced that in September 2007 Marriott, JW Marriott, The Ritz-Carlton, Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence Inn, SpringHill Suites, Fairfield Inn, TownePlace Suites and Marriott ExecuStay brands will 100% smokefree.
Posted by lungblogposter at July 26, 2006 09:08 AM
Comments
Considering how many Americans have been exposed to second hand smoke and the high incidence of lung cancer deaths (including my wife in 2004), I believe it is time for the NCI and American Cancer Society to recommend periodic screening for lung cancer, especially for those who have smoked or have been exposed to secondary smoke. Just stopping smoking won't those who have already been or continue to be exposed.
Posted by: Lincoln Mueller at July 28, 2006 01:36 PM
Thanks very much for "clearing the air" about the damaging effects of secondhand smoke and the importance of not exposing anyone to it.
This blog will really have a major impact on educating people about issues like secondhand smoke and how they can avoid it by making places smoke free zones.
Blair Price
QuitSmokingSupport
Posted by: Blair Price at August 2, 2006 01:01 PM
I would like to take this opportunity the publically thank those responsible for making the hospital where I work tobacco free. Effective 8/1/2006 San Juan Regional Medical Center, Farmington, NM is tobacco free.
http://www.sanjuanregional.com/
Jeff Wolf, RRT
Posted by: Jeff Wolf, RRT at August 11, 2006 01:26 PM
Cig.'s & the like are being blamed for much more than they are actually harming. Look further, it takes a LOT more than just being around it to be affected like the media wants us to believe. Hasn't anyone noticed the increases in "air fresheners", perfumes, etc.?? THOSE have contributed to BAD AIR more & more as the years have progressed yet no one mentions this nor looks into it. Asthma has risen due to all the chemicals we put into the air, which are from more than cig.'s. People, educate yourselves!
Posted by: Vickie at August 11, 2006 02:15 PM
I have a question. Has anyone reading this ever had problems with someone else's cigaret smoke seeping into their home from a parking lot ot apartment house? I am having trouble convincing any of my family that I need help sealing up pipe and window gaps that I know lets it in. I am getting very ill and my asthma is much worse. Anyone else have this problem? Or am I the only crazy one?
Posted by: Anne at December 7, 2006 01:44 PM
hi, thanks for posting and sharing this. i really like your article. It can help a lot not only to me but to others too who keep on and wanted to stop smoking. And i'd like to read posts like this to have some ideas and inspiration on stop smoking post. Keep it up!
Posted by: crizzia on Stop Smoking Program at August 15, 2007 02:24 PM
