434,000 Americans die annually from smoking related illnesses but people who chose to smoke are also greatly effected. The harmful chemicals and poisons within tobacco smoke directly poison smokers and the non-smokers nearby. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has classified secondhand some as a known human carcinogen. (A carcinogen is defined as a substance that will cause cancer.)
Secondhand smoke is also referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), passive smoke, or sidestream tobacco smoke. This smoke comes from both the burning cigarette, cigar, or pipe and the exhalation of the smoker.
This smoke contains all the harmful ingredients of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and the carbon. A person who breaths this smoke may be referred to as an involuntary or passive smoker due to the fact that there is no choice given to this person who is forced to breath tobacco smoke.
WHY IS SECONDHAND SMOKE HAZARDOUS?
Secondhand smoke contains the same hazardous ingredients that are within the cigarette. A smoker is inhaling over 4,000 chemicals such as: ammonia, butane, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, and methane. This smoke is the same whether it is directly inhaled by the smoker or by a non-smoker.
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WHO IS AFFECTED?
Secondhand smoke is harmful for everyone. No one is an exception.
Secondhand smoke is harmful for unborns, infants and children. It can cause damage in the developing organs and growth of an unborn and cause low birth weight and health problems in newborns.
Secondhand smoke is harmful to the developing organs of infants and increases the possibility of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). According to the American Lung Association, a number of studies show that in the first two years of life, babies of smoking parents have a much higher rate of lung diseases such as bronchitis and pneumonia than babies with smoke free parents.
Children of parents who smoke are more likely to develop Asthma, chronic Bronchitis, pneumonia, allergies, croup, and frequent ear and sinus infections. Children may also have colds more often and have a harder time in getting better.
Children who grow up breathing secondhand smoke are also at an increased risk for: Lung cancer and others, cardiovascular disease- heart attack, respiratory conditions…
Anyone who is exposed to secondhand smoke
is at risk for health problems.
Protect yourself from the hazardous effects of secondhand smoke. Here are some suggestions for keeping your environment smoke free.
- Create a NO-SMOKING rule for your home.
Post the classic "Thank you for not smoking" sign within your household. Do not keep ashtrays available. Advise any guests, caregivers, cleaning staff, etc. where they may smoke outside.
Click here to take the Smokefree Home & Car Pledge
- Create a NO-SMOKING rule for your car.
Carry your home rules into your car. The enclosed environment of a car is just a hazardous as a room. An open window does not keep the smoke away from you.
Click here to take the Smokefree Home & Car Pledge
- Stay out of places where there is secondhand smoke.
Examples of hazardous places would be restaurants without a smoke free policy, and the homes of friends/family who smoke. Please advise those places why you will not expose yourself to hazardous secondhand smoke. This suggestion may appear difficult to fulfill but remember the reason you are protecting yourself from secondhand smoke.
- Make sure that your child’s school/ day care is smoke free.
Most locations have a smoke free policy in place. Make sure this policy is followed. If any facility does not enforce their smoke free policy, speak to the school officials who are responsible for creating a safe environment.
- Learn how you can make a difference.
Just by reading this resource shows that you are trying to make a difference. Education is the key. Please contact the staff of SmokeFree Dutchess to join any of our activities and events.
The information provided here was gathered from resources provided by the Dutchess County Department of Health, United States Environmental Protection Agency, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, and American Heart Association.
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