What is environment tobacco smoke?

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS or secondhand smoke) is a Class A carcinogen (cancer causing agent) composed of the smoke exhaled from a smoker as well as the smoke released from the end of a burning cigarette, pipe or cigars. In fact, the effects of one cigarette in a room or car can last up to two weeks. It consists of more than 4,000 chemicals, fifty of which cause cancer, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, benzene, chromium, nickel, vinyl chloride and arsenic.

Does ETS affect health?

ETS kills an estimated 70,000 nonsmoking Americans every year. Scientific evidence suggested that individuals who have repeated exposure to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop and die from heart problems, lung cancer and breathing problems. It can also cause chest infections, ear infections, coughing, and throat irritation.

What risks does ETS pose to children?

Children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop bronchitis, pneumonia, colds, coughing/wheezing, sore throats, eye irritations, allergies, asthma, increased incidences and severity of asthma attacks in children who already have asthma, and ear infections. Secondhand smoke causes fluid to build up in middle ear. Middle ear infections are the most common cause of childhood operations and hearing loss.

What risks does ETS pose to infants?

Every year in the United States there are 150,000-300,000 cases of infections in infants and children under the ages of 18 months who breathe secondhand smoke resulting in 7,500 to 15,000 hospitalizations. The American Lung Association estimates up to 15,000 child hospitalizations each year are due to secondhand smoke. Babies are three times more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome if they are exposed to smoke before and after pregnancy.

Can ETS be filtered out?

Unfortunately, many of the products in smoke are in a gas form. Therefore, secondhand smoke cannot be entirely filtered out through ventilation systems or special fans. In fact, many fans can spread the tobacco smoke into rooms where no one has been smoking.

Will smoking outside reduce the exposure to chemicals?

Smoking outside does decrease the exposure to chemicals in the cigarettes, however it does not eliminate the risks. In fact many of the chemicals are brought into the home through clothing. This is particular important when infants are in the home, because often babies will be resting against the clothes of someone who has just smoked and will be exposed to the chemicals. New research is being conducted to discover the strength of the nicotine exposure to infants from clothing exposure because it is being linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).