Smoke-Free Washington :: Health Effects

Health Effects

What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe, and the smoke exhaled by smokers.1

There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke. It has more than 4,000 toxic chemicals, including more than 50 known to cause cancer. Below are just a few of the chemicals and their common uses:1

Chemical		Common Use
Formaldehyde	-	Used to embalm dead bodies
Benzene	-	Used in gasoline
Hydrogen Cyanide	-	Used in chemical weapons
Cadmium	-	Used in making batteries
Arsenic	-	Used in pesticides

Each year in the United States, about 3,400 lung cancer deaths and more than 22,000 heart disease deaths occur because of secondhand smoke. A non-smoker’s health is affected every time that he or she is exposed to secondhand smoke. Consider the following facts:

When one person smokes inside a home, everyone inside breathes secondhand smoke.

Non-smokers regularly exposed to secondhand smoke can develop hardening of the arteries 20 percent faster than people not regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.2
Only 30 minutes of exposure causes blood vessel changes similar to that of regular smokers. This can reduce the ability of the heart to receive life-giving blood.3
Non-smokers can also have breathing problems, like asthma, bronchitis, coughing, phlegm, and chest discomfort from breathing secondhand smoke.1
Breathing secondhand smoke causes irritation of the eyes, nose and throat.1

The Main place your 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.

Effects on Children

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

Effects on Babies

Breathing secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).1
Secondhand smoke is responsible for between 150,000 and 300,000 lung infections in children younger than 18 months of age. This results in between 7,500 and 15,000 hospitalizations each year.1
Secondhand smoke causes low birth weight and lung problems in infants.1

Effects on Spouses

Secondhand smoke is hazardous to everyone’s health.1
Nonsmoking women who live with a spouse who smokes have a 20 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer.6

Effects on Pets

Secondhand smoke is linked to negative health effects on household pets.7
Cancer in cats is linked to secondhand smoke. Cats that live with people who smoke are more than twice as likely as other cats to develop cancer.6

Last Updated: 02/24/10

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.

Reference in this Web site to any specific commercial products, process, service, manufacturer, or company does not constitute its endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Health (DOH). Links to external Web sites are provided because they may contain relevant information and resources. These external Web sites are not maintained by DOH and the Department takes no responsibility for the views that may be represented, or the accuracy, propriety, or legality of any material contained on the sites. Read More...