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Environmental Tobacco
Smoke:
A Dangerous Problem
Tobacco
smoke pollution, also called secondhand smoke, is a mixture of
smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke
that is exhaled by smokers. When a cigarette is smoked, as much
as 85% of the smoke goes out into the air to be inhaled by others.
Cigarette
smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, of which at least
250 are known to be toxic or carcinogenic. Because of the way it
is formed, secondhand smoke contains higher concentrations of the same
compounds inhaled by the
smoker.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies environmental tobacco smoke as a Group A carcinogen (a substance known to
cause cancer in humans). There is no safe level of exposure to Group A carcinogens.
Secondhand
smoke is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United
States. (Not surprisingly, active smoking leads the list.)
Secondhand smoke is responsible for about 3,000 lung cancer deaths annually among
adult nonsmokers. It may also cause as many as 46,000 deaths
from heart disease.
Lung
cancer now surpasses breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in
women. Non-smoking spouses of heavy smokers have
a nearly doubled risk of developing lung cancer.
A recent Surgeon General's report concluded
that there
is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief
exposure can have health consequences.
Exposure to secondhand Be sure to visit our Workplaces Page for more information about the effects of secondhand smoke exposure at work.smoke has immediate effects on the heart, blood and blood vessels, increasing the risk of
having a heart attack. People who already have heart disease are at especially
high risk.
Secondhand
smoke causes immediate respiratory damage and irritation. The Surgeon General
advises persons with asthma and other respiratory conditions to avoid
exposure.
Secondhand
smoke exposure during pregnancy has been linked to a reduction in the
birth weight of babies. This reduction can result in a higher
likelihood of dying in the first year of life and other long term
health problems.
Bars
have some of the highest secondhand smoke levels. Bar workers
and patrons are therefore particularly at risk.
Workplaces are
a major source of secondhand smoke exposure for adults. Secondhand
smoke causes more deaths each year than all other regulated chemical
work hazards combined.
The
Surgeon General has concluded that a smoke-free environment is
the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke
exposure. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the
air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure.
Watch this outstanding video from the Surgeon General's Office on secondhand smoke in the workplace. [Flash Player] [YouTube]
Be sure to visit our Workplaces Page for more information about the effects of secondhand smoke exposure at work
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