Despite all of the health problems that smoking been proven to cause, it remains wildly popular. According to the American Heart Association, 45 million Americans are smokers.
The negative effects of cigarette smoking often have negative impacts upon the health of those who don't smoke. Despite not smoking themselves, many who work or socialize with smokers and children who live with smokers are at risk of health problems resulting from cigarette smoke.
Secondhand smoke, which is also referred to as "environmental tobacco smoke" and "passive smoking," occurs when nonsmokers unintentionally inhale chemicals from either lit cigarettes or the exhalation of those smoking. The first category is called "sideways smoke," while the latter is referred to as "mainstream smoke."
Secondhand Smoke is Deadly
According to the Centers for Disease Conrtrol and Prevention, 440,400 Americans die yearly from the results of cigarettes. They're not all smokers, either. The National Cancer Institute reports that exposure to secondhand smoke causes roughly 38,000 deaths annually.
Effects on Children
According to a September 2010 report by the CDC, more than half of all children are exposed to secondhand smoke. The study said that among children ages 3 to 11, 54 percent have been exposed to secondhand smoke and 98 percent who share a residence with a smoker showed noticeable levels of smoking-related toxic chemicals.
According to the National Cancer Institute, secondhand smoke is the reason for between 50,000 and 300,000 lung infections in kids below 18 months old. The NCI also says it causes more than 750,000 ear infections in children annually and boosts the number and severity of asthma attacks for between 200,000 and 1 million asthmatic kids.
Other Side Effects
Secondhand smoke also causes breathing problems in nonsmokers, including coughing, mucus, chest discomfort and reduced lung function, reports the the American Cancer Society. Pregnant women who are exposed to it face increased risk of producing babies with low birth weight. Secondhand smoke may be linked to breast cancer, though no conclusive theory has been reached. In a 2005 study, the California Environmental Protection Agency reported that a correlation between secondhand smoke and breast cancer is "consistent with a causal association" in younger women. According to a 2006 report by the U.S. Surgeon General, there is "suggestive but not sufficient" evidence of a link at this point.
Laws on Secondhand Smoke
As awareness of the health risks of smoking has grown, so, too, have laws designed to protect nonsmokers. As of September 2010, 28 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico--along with hundreds of cities--have passed laws banning smoking in restaurants and bars. Many states also have passed laws limiting workplace smoking to designated areas in an effort to lessen the risk to nonsmoking workers. Some states have laws that ban smoking in the car if carrying passengers under the age of 17, the NCI reports.
