Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is harmful and contains over 4,000 chemicals, including 50 carcinogens. It can cause various health issues for nonsmokers like eye irritation, headaches, and increased risk of lung cancer and heart disease. Exposure to secondhand smoke is especially harmful for unborn children, infants, and young children, increasing risks like SIDS, respiratory infections, and ear infections. While laws aim to reduce exposure through smoking bans in public places, individuals can also take actions like establishing smoke-free homes and requesting smoke-free environments when visiting others.
4. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke can harm nonsmokers.
Nonsmokers who breathe air containing tobacco
smoke are also at risk for health problems.
5. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is also
called secondhand smoke.
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
Air that has been contaminated by
tobacco smoke
6. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
Environmental tobacco smoke is composed of
mainstream smoke and
sidestream smoke.
7. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
Because mainstream smoke has been exhaled
by a smoker, it contains lower concentrations of
carcinogens, nicotine, and tar.
Mainstream smoke
The smoke exhaled from the lungs
of a smoker
8. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
Sidestream smoke is more dangerous than
mainstream smoke.
Sidestream smoke
The smoke from the burning end
of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar
9. Health Risks of Tobacco Smoke
ETS from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes contains
more than 4,000 chemical compounds.
More than 50 of those chemicals are cancer-
causing carcinogens.
10. Health Risks to Nonsmokers
ETS causes eye irritation, headaches, ear
infections, and coughing.
It worsens asthma and other respiratory problems,
and it increases the risk of lung cancer and
coronary heart disease.
11. Health Risks to Unborn Children and Infants
Smoking during
pregnancy reduces
blood oxygen levels,
increasing the risk of
impaired fetal growth
spontaneous miscarriage
and prenatal death
premature delivery
low birth weight
deformities
stillbirths
12. Health Risks to Unborn Children and Infants
Infants exposed to ETS after birth are twice as
likely to die of SIDS.
They may have severe asthma attacks, ear
infections, or respiratory tract infections.
13. Health Risks to Young Children
The children of smokers are more than twice as
likely to smoke themselves.
They also have a higher incidence of
sore throats
ear infections
upper respiratory problems
14. Health Risks to Young Children
Parents protect the health
and development of their
children by staying
tobacco-free.
15. Reducing Your Risks
You can take action to reduce the effects
of ETS.
Express your preference wherever you can for a
smoke-free environment.
16. Reducing Your Risks
Encourage smokers to quit.
Establish smoke-free areas in the house.
Make a rule that smokers go outside.
Use air cleaners to remove some contaminants from the air.
Open windows to allow fresh air in.
Don’t allow visitors to smoke inside your home.
17. Reducing Your Risks
When visiting a
home in which
someone
smokes:
stay outside or in a
different room as much
as possible.
ask to open the windows
to provide fresh air.
suggest meeting
elsewhere, such as in
your home or at a library.
18. Creating a Smoke-Free Society
In most states, it is illegal to sell tobacco
to teens under the age of 18, and it is
illegal to smoke in public places.
In the United States, efforts to create a smoke-
free society continue to grow.
19. Creating a Smoke-Free Society
Smoking is prohibited in many restaurants, and
some restaurants
are required to
have a nonsmoking
section.
20. Supporting National Health Goals
One of the goals of Healthy People 2010 is to
reduce tobacco use and the number of tobacco-
related deaths.
States and local communities are also supporting
the efforts to create a smoke-free society.
21. Supporting National Health Goals
Laws restrict where
people may smoke, as
well as who can buy
tobacco products.
22. Supporting National Health Goals
Laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors
have been enacted.
Some states have successfully sued tobacco
companies to recover the costs of treating
tobacco-related illnesses.
Community activities that promote a healthy
lifestyle provide everyone with the opportunity to
practice healthful behaviors.
23. After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
Air that has been contaminated with tobacco
smoke; mainstream smoke and sidestream
smoke contain more than 4,000 chemicals.
1. What is environmental tobacco smoke,
and what chemical does it contain?
24. After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
2. List three ways that ETS affects children.
Sample answer: It increases a child’s risk
of ear infections, respiratory problems, and
sore throats.
25. After You Read
Reviewing Facts and Vocabulary
3. What are two public policies aimed at
reducing ETS?
Sample answer: Prohibiting smoking in
public places and banning smoking on flights
