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Passive smokingPublished by Bupa's health information team, healthinfo@bupa.com, April 2008 Passive (or involuntary) smoking is where second-hand smoke is breathed in by someone other than the smoker. This article tells you about the dangers of passive smoking. Just as direct smoking can cause cancer and serious breathing problems, passive smoking may hold similar dangers for non-smokers who breathe in second-hand smoke. Passive smoking may affect friends and colleagues near the smoker, children in the home and even unborn babies. Second-hand smoke (also known as environmental tobacco smoke) is smoke that comes from the burning cigarette (sidestream smoke) combined with the smoke breathed out by the smoker (mainstream smoke). What's in the smoke?Cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive drug. Additives and flavourings are added to make them taste better and to reduce the sight and smell of the smoke produced by the burning cigarette. There are about 4,000 different chemicals in cigarettes and the smoke that they produce. Just a few of these include:
What effects can passive smoking have on non-smokers?Short-term effectsPassive smokers may have difficulty breathing, as well as headaches, coughing, feeling sick or dizzy, sore throats, and eye irritation. If you have asthma, being exposed to smoke may make your symptoms worse. The smell of smoke on your clothes and hair is less serious, but sometimes more irritating. Long-term effectsPassive smoking increases your risk of developing smoking-related diseases, including heart disease, cancer, especially lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) which causes problems with breathing. Effects on childrenChildren are particularly at risk of passive smoking because they are smaller than adults and also breathe more quickly. Almost half of all children in the UK are exposed to tobacco smoke in the home, and more than 17,000 children under five are admitted to hospital each year as a result of passive smoking. Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at an increased risk of a number of serious conditions including:
Your child is also more likely to start smoking if you smoke around him or her at home. Babies can be affected by passive smoking even before they are born. According to the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), smoking during pregnancy, breathing in second-hand smoke or smoking in the same room as a baby can increase the risk of cot death. Passive smoking during pregnancy can lead to babies having a low birth weight - this can cause serious health problems in later life. Legality in the UKOn 1 July 2007, all enclosed public places and workplaces such as pubs, clubs and restaurants in England became smoke-free. This had been the case in Scotland since March 2006 and in Wales and Northern Ireland since April 2007. Research shows that in England three-quarters of all adults are in favour of the smoking ban and nearly eight out of 10 people think that it's beneficial for people's health. The research showed other benefits such as people's clothes and hair not smelling of smoke after going out to a pub or club, and these places having cleaner air and a more pleasant atmosphere. Further information
0800 169 0 169 www.gosmokefree.co.uk Related information
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