"Second Hand Smoke" redirects here. For the Sublime album, see Second-hand Smoke (album)Passive smoking (also known as involuntary smoking, secondhand smoking, or Environmental Tobacco Smoke) occurs when the ambient smoke from (a) one person's burning tobacco product or (b) the smoker's exhalation is inhaled by others. There is controversy surrounding the health risks of long term exposure to second hand smoke, but the most recent studies confirm the health risks. Passive smoking is one of the key issues leading to smoking bans in workplaces, smoke-free restaurants, and public places.
Short Term Effects
Some non-smokers are able to stay in a room with smokers for quite some time and notice little or no effects. For others, however, just a few minutes or an hour of exposure can make them feel quite ill. Persons with asthma can experience attacks brought on by proximity to smoke.
Tobacco smoke is an allergen, and allergy sufferers can experience stuffy, runny noses, watery eyes, sneezing, coughing, wheezing, and all the other typical allergy symptoms within minutes of exposure. Some people with no known allergies and without asthma may cough in smoke-filled rooms, get headaches, feel nauseous, feel sleepy, and experience other ill effects. Many former smokers, and those who are trying to quit do not like to be around smoke as it can cause them to have cravings. Some people simply do not like the odor, which clings to hair and clothing.
Inequities are killing people on a "grand scale" reports WHO's Commission Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:00:00 +0200 28 August 2008 | GENEVA -- A girl in Lesotho is likely to live 42 years less than another in Japan. In Sweden, the risk of a woman dying during pregnancy and childbirth is 1 in 17 400; in Afghanistan the odds are 1 in 8. These "social determinants of health" have been the focus of a three-year investigation by an eminent group of policy makers, academics, former heads of state and former ministers of health which has presented its findings to the WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. The face of cancer is changing Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0200 27 August 2008 -- For public health, the complexity of cancer control has increased enormously following the shift of the disease burden from wealthy to less affluent countries. Cancer causes around 7.9 million deaths worldwide each year. Floods in West Africa raise major health risks Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:00 +0200 19 August 2008 -- Rising flood waters across West Africa are intensifying health risks for millions of people, and adding to the impact of the food price crisis. International aid is needed since heavy rains could exacerbate health threats for conditions including malaria, diarrhoea and other potentially fatal communicable diseases. WHO launches new HIV/AIDS guide to help countries reach universal access Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:15:00 +0200 5 August 2008 -- At the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, WHO launched a package of priority interventions designed to help low- and middle-income countries move towards universal access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support. WHO and World Bank join forces for better results from global health investments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:00:00 +0200 5 August 2008 -- As delegates gather at the International AIDS Conference (3-8 August), WHO and the World Bank address the pressing global debate around health systems and initiatives in specific aspects of health, nutrition and population. Targeted action on HIV and tuberculosis needed to reach drug users Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 +0200 4 August 2008 -- Health and criminal justice authorities need to provide targeted services to drug users, especially those who inject drugs, to prevent and treat tuberculosis (TB) and HIV. TB is a major cause of death for people living with HIV, but drug users who are HIV-positive face stigma, discrimination and barriers to accessing life-saving treatments.
Health Effects of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke - From the National Cancer Institute. Exposure measurement and prevalence, developmental toxicity (prenatal and postnatal), reproductive effects, respiratory health effects, carcinogenic effects, cardiovascular effects.
African Americans and Secondhand Smoke - Booklet created by the Onyx Group for the National Association of African Americans for Positive Imagery; facts about secondhand smoke, community response.
Meta Description: [ Breathing Free: African Americans and Secondhand Smoke is
a special clean indoor air booklet designed around cultural
issues that are part of the African American experience, such
as extended families, respect for elders, and rejec... ]
404Guides on Environmental Tobacco Smoke - NCTH publications on secondhand smoke; ETS in the workplace; advocacy tools for protecting yourself and others from secondhand smoke; science and health effects; case studies and new developments; best practices and lessons learned. resources for further research.
500How Dangerous is Second-Hand Smoke? - The immediate and long-term health effects of exposure to second-hand smoke; links to other sites for information on passive smoking, indoor air quality, and related health problems.
Meta Description: [ Describes what is in second hand smoke and explains why it is more dangerous than what is inhaled by a smoker. Clarifies the difference between mainstream and sidestream smoke. Lists the immediate and long-term health effects of exposure to second-hand smoke. Prepared by the Canadian Council for ... ]
Just Eliminate Lies - Ad campaign developed by Iowa teens on secondhand smoke .
Meta Description: [ Just Eliminate Lies: A swarm of Iowa teens fighting the tobacco industry's corrupt efforts to manipulate them into using their addictive, deadly product. ]
Protecting Nonsmokers From Secondhand Smoke - A fact sheet about protecting nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, produced by Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights. All facts presented with citations to research literature.
The Truth About Secondhand Smoke - Report on the science, the industry's attack on the science, and the practical significance of secondhand smoke, from GASP of Colorado.
Meta Description: [ GASP of Colorado (Group to alleviate Smoking Pollution) is a statewide nonprofit organization that works to promote smoke-free policies and educate the public about the dangers of secondhand smoke. ]