Second-hand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke.
Second-hand smoke is made up of:
- Sidestream smoke that goes directly into the air from the end of a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe.
- Mainstream smoke that is inhaled by the smoker first, then exhaled into the air.
Second-hand smoke contains the same 4000 chemicals that a smoker inhales through a cigarette.
According to the US Surgeon General there is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
A study from Austrailia in 2010 supports the US Surgeon General’s conclusions and indicates that second-hand smoke is dangerous even in outdoor areas.
Second-hand smoke is extremely dangerous to infants and young children:
- Babies who breathe in second-hand smoke have a higher risk of dying from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or crib death.
- Babies and children exposed to second-hand smoke have more frequent lower respiratory tract problems, such as coughs, pneumonia, bronchitis and croup.
- Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, and they will suffer more from it than children of non-smokers who have asthma.
- Second-hand smoke increases the number of ear infections in children
For more information on smoking diseases and second-hand smoke visit Health Canada and The US Surgeon General
Third Hand Smoke
ACT has made this simple Fact Sheet about the issues surrounding third hand smoke.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Alliance for the Control of Tobacco 