Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand tobacco smoke is smoke from other people’s cigarettes and is a major source of indoor air pollution. It can lead to heart disease and lung cancer as well as making asthma and other respiratory problems worse.

Second-hand tobacco smoke is made up of two types of smoke:

Mainstream smoke	Sidestream smoke
this is the smoke that is inhaled and exhaled by smokers	this is the smoke that comes from the end of a burning cigarette or cigar and makes up 85% of the smoke in a smoky environment. This type of smoke contains more toxins and nicotine than mainstream smoke.

Immediate effects

The immediate effects of secondhand tobacco smoke include:

• Coughing, headache, eye irritation, sore throat, sneezing and runny nose
• Feeling sick, breathing difficulties (and increased risk of asthma attack)
• Irregular heartbeat (a particular problem for people with heart disease)

The longer-term effects of secondhand tobacco smoke include:

• Worsening of chest problems and allergies like asthma, hay fever, bronchitis and emphysema
• Increased risk of heart disease Increased risk of lung cancer
• Pregnant women exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke can pass on harmful gases and chemicals to their babies

Second-hand tobacco smoke and children

The effects of secondhand tobacco smoke and children can be more serious because their bodies are still developing. Baby’s exposure can increase the risk of cot death, whilst children suffer more asthma attacks and chest infections as well as being more likely to develop ear infections and ‘glue ear’.

Unfortunately, children can’t always control whether or not they are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke, so adults have a responsibility to protect them.

Secondhand tobacco smoke in the school/college/youth centre/workplace

England is going smokefree in 2007 after a lengthy and intensive campaign involving many cities. In addition to the health benefits from banning smoking in the workplace/schools/colleges/youth centre, there are also business benefits including:

• Less absenteeism, increased productivity, improved staff/pupil/student morale
• Better school/college/youth centre/business image, reduced decorating costs, lower risk of fire
• Cheaper insurance

If your school/college/youth club needs any advice or support to make appropriate changes in preparation for the smoking ban in summer 2007, log onto www.cleanairaward.org.uk This site contains lots of downloadable information and resources to help your organisation implement smokefree policies.

Owens, C. Secondhand Smoke – what is it and what can you do about it? 2003 Department of Health