Smoke-Free Homes

Why is secondhand smoke in my home bad for my family?

Many people aren’t aware how bad secondhand smoke is for their health, and why it is so important – even if they smoke – to keep their homes smoke-free. Others may be aware that secondhand smoke is a toxic substance, but don’t take the steps necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones.

When contained in a small space, such as a single room or car, secondhand smoke is more concentrated and has higher levels of toxins. Opening a window, smoking in another room or having air purifiers and ventilation systems is not enough to protect you and your family from secondhand smoke.

Did you know? When one person smokes inside a home, everyone inside breathes secondhand smoke.
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Smoke can creep underneath closed doors and locked windows and invade other areas of your home. Even after a cigarette, cigar, or pipe has been put out, harmful chemicals from secondhand smoke remain in the environment (clothes, carpets, drapes, air, etc.) and can circulate all over the house.

Secondhand smoke has direct impacts on the health of your home and those who live there. Consider the facts:

Children

  • Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke get more ear infections and chronic respiratory illnesses.footnote 1
  • Secondhand smoke causes sore throats, croup, asthma, bronchitis, middle ear infections, and reduced lung function.footnote 1
  • Nationwide, children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home experience more days of missed school every year than those not exposed.footnote 4
  • Children are more susceptible to symptoms of respiratory irritation like coughing, excess phlegm, and wheezing.footnote 1
  • Secondhand smoke can cause children with asthma or allergies to have longer and more severe attacks.footnote 5

Babies

Did you know? The main place young children breathe secondhand smoke is in their homes. Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of 6 years old breathe secondhand smoke at home at least 4 days per week.
footnote 1
  • Breathing secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).footnote 1
  • Secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lower respiratory tract infections in children younger than 18 months of age, which result in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year.footnote 1
  • Secondhand smoke causes low birth weight and lung problems in infants.footnote 1

Spouses

  • Secondhand smoke is hazardous to everyone’s health, including smokers, nonsmokers, and especially women and babies.footnote 1
  • Nonsmoking women who live with a spouse who smokes have a 20 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer.footnote 6

Pets

  • Secondhand smoke is linked to negative health effects on household pets.footnote 7
  • Lymphoma – the most common type of cancer in cats – now is linked to secondhand smoke. Cats that live with people who smoke are more than twice as likely as other cats to develop feline lymphoma.footnote 6

What can you do?

Did you know? People who breathe secondhand smoke at home or at work have a 20 to 30 percent increase in the risk of lung cancer and heart disease.
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Make your home smoke-free:

  • Don't smoke in your house and don't permit others to do so.
  • Place a "Thank you for not smoking" sign in your home and car. Get your sign here.
  • Fill ashtrays in your car with sugar-free candies or change.
  • Don't allow babysitters or others who work for you (including repair workers, installers, gardeners, etc.) to smoke in your house, car or on your property – especially near your children.
  • Consider deep cleaning your carpet, rugs, drapes, furniture and walls to remove any chemical residue – and don’t forget to clean your car, too!
  • Give clothing and jackets a good cleaning.
  • Teach your children to stay away from secondhand smoke.
  • Find out about the smoking policies of your children’s daycare provider, preschool, schools, and other caregivers.
  • If a person in your home smokes, encourage them to quit. Free help is available at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.quitline.com.

Interested in how to make your apartment or condo smoke-free?

Visit our Apartments & Condos section to learn how many Washington residents are changing the policies in their multi-unit housing complexes.





  • Last Updated: 07/10/08

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    This Web site contains information on the revised Clean Indoor Air Act (RCW 70.160). It is not legal advice. This information cannot be considered as a substitute for legal advice from and representation by a qualified attorney.

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