Passive Smoking

Breathing the smoke from other people's cigarettes is called passive smoking. It consists of smoke from the burning end of the cigarette - called sidestream smoke - and smoke inhaled and exhaled by the smoker - mainstream smoke. The US Environmental Protection Agency has declared passive smoking or exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to be a 'Class A Carcinogen' which means that it is capable of causing cancer in humans.

The effects

Passive smoking can cause the following

• adults
• irritation to the eyes, nose and throat;
• headaches, dizziness and sickness;
• aggravation of asthma and allergies;
• increased risk of coronary heart disease;
• a 10 to 30% increased risk of lung cancer for non-smokers who are exposed to passive smoking over long periods.
• babies and young children
• increased acute respiratory illness in early childhood (including infections);
• chronic cough, phlegm and wheeze;
• chronic middle ear effusions (glue ear);
• reduced levels and growth of lung function;
• increased prevalence of asthma;
• increased likelihood of low birthweight;

Half the children in England live in households with at least one smoker. Unlike adults, young children do not have any choice about whether or not they are exposed to tobacco smoke.

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• Kids and Teenage Health