Secondhand Smoke

The harmful effects of smoking do not end with the smoker. An estimated 88 million nonsmoking Americans, including 54% of children aged 3–11 years, are exposed to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure can be dangerous because nonsmokers inhale many of the same poisons in cigarette smoke as smokers.

Secondhand smoke exposure causes serious disease and death, including heart disease and lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more frequent and severe asthma attacks in children. [i]

[i]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Tobacco Use Targeting the nation’s leading killer:  At a Glance 2011.  Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Office on Smoking and Health, 2011.

Produced with funding from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Division of Tobacco Use Prevention and Control

1-800-435-3454

www.nwiatobaccofreecoalition.org

Reducing the exposure of individuals to secondhand smoke:

Make your home or vehicle smoke free (http://www.epa.gov/smokefre/healtheffects.html)

This is a good way to protect your children from the harmful effects of smoke, even if you or members of your family smoke.

Help apartment building owners implement smoke free apartment policies.  Smoke free apartment policies can help reduce the effect of smoke on families currently living in apartments as well as those who may live there in the future. (http://www.smokefreeapartments.org/model_policy.html)