News and Information

Back to News and Information

How lethal is Second hand smoking

Second hand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke. It 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.

This smoke hovers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers. It can cause or worsen a wide range of adverse effects such as cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma. More than the regular smokers, second hand smoking is very bad for people who inhale it.

Dangers of Second-hand smoke

Second hand smoke is more dangerous than directly inhaled smoke. It is harmful even when you cannot see or smell it. Second-hand smoke releases the same amount 4,000 chemicals as smoke that is directly inhaled in even greater quantity. Approximately 50 of these chemicals (carcinogens) can cause cancer.

Cigarettes burn for approximately 12 minutes, but smokers usually only inhale for 30 seconds. As a result, cigarettes eject second-hand smoke into the air which is inhaled by non-smokers.

The smoke inhaled by the smoker first, and then exhaled, is called mainstream smoke.
The smoke that goes directly into the air from the end of a burning cigarette is called side stream smoke. Because second-hand smoke burns at a lower temperature than inhaled smoke (mainstream) it contains 2 times more tar and 5 times more carbon monoxide, which reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood.

Health hazards of second-hand smoke

Second hand smoking can be pretty bad for those people who do not smoke themselves.
Second-hand smoke is linked to a large number of deaths every year. People who take in second hand smoke are at more risk than people who smoke directly.

The short-term effects include:

• Eye irritation
• Headache
• Nasal discomfort and sneezing
• Cough and sore throat
• Nausea and dizziness
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure
• Increased risk for people with heart disease (angina), asthma, allergies

Long-term effects include reduced ability to take in and use oxygen.

Cancer of the lung

In 1993, the Environmental Protection Agency sited second hand smoking in the most dangerous category of cancer-causing agents.

Second hand smoke is a known risk factor for lung cancer. Secondhand smoke is also linked to cancer of the nasal sinuses. It's also been associated to cancers of the cervix, breast and bladder. However, lung cancer is the highest risk faced due to second hand smoking.

Childhood asthma and other breathing difficulties can result due to inhalation of second hand smoke. It can damage the lungs and make breathing difficult.

Heart disease and stroke

Second hand smoke harms the cardiovascular system of nonsmokers in many ways. For one thing, it causes coronary heart disease, such as a heart attack. It also damages blood vessels, interferes with circulation and increases the risk of blood clots.

Other ailments caused by second hand smoking

Chronic lung ailments, such as bronchitis and asthma have been associated with second hand smoke. Exposure to secondhand smoke is also associated with chest tightness at night and feelings of breathlessness after physical activity.

Second hand smoke exposure may lead to buildup of fluid in the middle ear.

Effects of second hand smoking on child health

Secondhand smoke has a noticeable effect on the health of infants and children. They are more vulnerable than adults as they are still under developing process and generally have higher breathing rates. It means they may inhale greater quantities of second hand smoke than adults.

Infants are at the highest risk of second hand smoke from their own mothers. A child who spends just one hour in a very smoky room is inhaling as many dangerous chemicals as if he or she smoked 10 or more cigarettes.

Pregnant women who are exposed to second hand smoke are at higher risk of having babies with slightly lower birth weight. This can cause a number of health problems for the baby leading to cerebral palsy or learning disabilities.

Women who actively smoke during pregnancy expose their developing baby to passive smoke. The chemicals from the smoke may pass through the placenta and put the baby at risk of lower birth weight.

To conclude, it can be said that second hand smoking is more dangerous than first hand smoking. It exposes other people to dangers of lung diseases and heart diseases.