Second-hand Smoke Kills, Says World Health Organization

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Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 31 May 2010 - 0:00 PST

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Second-hand smoke, also known as passive smoking, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is the involuntary breathing in (inhalation) of smoke from tobacco products used by others - the inhaler is usually a non-smoker. It occurs when the smoke permeates any environment - usually a closed environment - causing its inhalation by individuals within that environment.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), second-hand smoke is a health hazard which kills.

According to the WHO, every individual should be able to inhale smoke-free air. The organization stresses that smoke-free legislation protects the health of non-smokers, encourages smokers to quit or smoke less, and does not harm business. WHO adds that smoke-free laws are popular.

Below are some facts published by the World Health Organization:

• A mere 5.4% of people are protected by comprehensive national smoke-free laws worldwide
• 362 million people were protected from second-hand smoke in 2008; an increase of 75% on the previous year.
• 22 of the worlds 100 most populous cities are smoke free.
• Nearly half of all children worldwide inhale polluted tobacco smoke.
• Passive smoking causes 600,000 premature deaths annually.
• 28% of all deaths attributable to second-hand smoke were among children.
• Tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful for human health, and 50 are known to cause cancer.
• Second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in adults, including lung cancer and coronary heart disease.
• Second-hand smoke causes serious problems for infants, including sudden death.
• Second-hand smoke can cause low birthweight babies in pregnant women.
• Neurological problems - second-hand smoke may lead to dementia and other neurological problems, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
• Second-hand smoke may trigger symptoms of nicotine dependence in children, according to a study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors.

World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2010

Sources: World Health Organization, British Medical Journal, Addictive Behaviors

Written by Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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