Public Health and Environment

Secondhand Smoke

Did You Know?

• Secondhand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mixture of smoke from the burning end of the cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from a smoker's lungs.
• Environmental tobacco smoke, better known as secondhand smoke, is the third preventable cause of death after active cigarette smoking and alcohol use.
• Secondhand smoke is a Class A carcinogen. This includes the most important cancer causing agents like benzene, asbestos and arsenic. "Class A" means they do cause cancer.
• Secondhand smoke kills more than 50,000 nonsmokers per year in the United States.
• Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 chemicals and 43 are known carcinogens. Studies have found that secondhand smoke is even more dangerous than inhaled smoke because it burns hotter.
• It takes several hours to a full day to clear the air of chemicals in a room where smoking has occurred.
• Smoking around pets makes them sick, too.

What Happens If You're Around Secondhand Smoke?

• You breathe in hundreds of toxic, cancer-causing chemicals, including formaldehyde, ammonia, acetone, cyanide, and methane, as well as tar and nicotine.
• You're more likely to suffer from asthma, wheezing, chest discomfort, reduced lung function and chronic bronchitis than your friends who aren't around smoke.
• You're more likely to have eye, nose and throat irritation.
• Children are exposed to more secondhand smoke in the home than in any other single environment. Hazards to children include:
  • Increased risk for childhood cancer.
  • Increased risk for lower respiratory tract infections.
  • Increased frequency of number and severity of symptoms in asthmatic children.
  • More colds, ear infections and coughs.

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself?

• Children:
  • Ask your parents to smoke outside, increase ventilation in the smoking area or quit smoking completely. Ask them to take the Environmental Protection Agency "smoke-free home pledge," by calling 1-800-513-1157.
  • Ask your friends not to smoke around you or better yet, encourage them to quit smoking.
• Parents:
  • Never smoke in your home or car when children are present.

Complaints About Secondhand Smoke

Washington County Department of Public Health & Environment
651-430-6655
(Washington County Complaints Only)
14949 62nd St. N.
Stillwater, MN   55082
PHE@co.washington.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Health
Environmental Health (Indoor Air Quality)
717 Delaware St. S.E.
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN   55440

Association for Nonsmokers Rights (ANSR)
651-646-3005 / 1-888-802-1507
2395 University Ave. W.
Suite 310
St. Paul, MN   55114-1507

• ANSR has many years of experience in public policy related to tobacco. The organization focuses on youth access, clean indoor air, tobacco advertising and promotion, and tobacco industry tactics. A resource center is available which includes technical information.