Second-hand smoke /passive smoking

Secondhand smoke is simply other people's tobacco smoke. Wherever people smoke, there is secondhand smoke in the air. Breathing in secondhand smoke is sometimes called passive smoking.

Secondhand smoke contains…

Side stream smoke - smoke from the tip of the cigarette.
Mainstream smoke - smoke that is breathed back out by the smoker.

Secondhand smoke hangs around for ages and most of it is invisible and odourless. Even if you open up the windows it will still be in a room after two and a half hours! Even if you can't see or smell any smoke, it's probably still there. Smoking in a car is even worse because all of the smoke is concentrated into a small space.

Non-smokers who breathe in secondhand smoke are at risk of the same diseases as smokers, including cancer and heart disease!

Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 toxic chemicals and it is estimated that it causes thousands of deaths each year. Children are particularly affected by secondhand smoke because their bodies are still developing. But around half of all British children are growing up in homes where at least one parent is a smoker.

How your secondhand smoke affects others

Breathing in other peoples' secondhand smoke can damage almost every organ in the human body. It increases the risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.

Breathing in secondhand smoke makes the blood more sticky. This means that there is a risk of blood clots forming. A blood clot can block an artery and cause heart attacks, strokes, angina or even complete heart failure.

When you go smokefree you will be protecting the health of your family and friends.

Secondhand smoke is very dangerous for children

Cot death is twice as likely for babies whose mothers smoke.
Smoking near children is a cause of serious respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia.
Secondhand smoke increases the risk of getting asthma and causes asthma attacks. Younger children are much more likely to contract a serious respiratory infection that requires hospitalisation.
There is also an increased risk of meningitis for children who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
Babies and children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to get coughs and colds, as well as middle ear disease which can cause deafness.