Secondhand Smoke and Adults

According to Americans for Nonsmoker's Rights (ANR) secondhand smoke can cause a number of illnesses to those who are exposed including a number of cancers, chronic coughing, phlegm and wheezing, chest discomfort, lowered lung function, severe lower respiratory tract infections, eye and nose irritation, and severe and chronic heart disease. www.no-smoke.org

The American Lung Association (ALA) lists secondhand smoke as the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States, (www.lungusa.org), citing secondhand smoke as claiming 53,000 nonsmokers lives every year.

And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lists secondhand smoke as the cause of "approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000-62,000 heart disease deaths in adult non smokers each year in the United States. Secondhand smoke has been classified as a Group A carcinogen under EPA's carcinogen assessment guidelines. This classification is reserved for those compounds or mixtures which have been shown to cause cancer in humans, based on studies in human populations." www.epa.gov/smokefree

The people of Washington took notice of these statistics and voted to passed the Clean Indoor Air Law which went into effect December 2005. Now all employees and patrons of every public facility are protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand Smoke and Children

But children aren't always as lucky . They are being exposed to secondhand smoke in their own homes and cars and suffer from health effects caused by secondhand smoke.

According to the EPA, children are more adversely affected by secondhand smoke because their bodies are still developing, leaving their lungs in a more fragile state. Children also breath at a faster rate, causing them to inhale secondhand smoke at a higher rate than adults.

Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to suffer from severe asthma and have an increased chance of developing asthma according to the ANR. They also report that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of developing bronchitis, pneumonia, and middle ear infections.

The EPA sites secondhand smoke exposure as being responsible for 150,000 to 300,00 lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children under 18 months of age.

Shockingly the ALA attributes secondhand smoke exposure as impairing a child's ability to learn, even at low levels of exposure.

Secondhand Smoke affects those you love

If you have to smoke....take it outside. If you don't smoke you can still help to protect our children from secondhand smoke by taking an interest in smoke free policies having an impact on multi-housing units, apartment complexes and play areas for children.

If you need help quitting, call the quit line 1-877-270-STOP

For more information on Secondhand Smoke visit:

 www.secondhandsmokesyou.com (includes information on I-901)

www.no-smoke.org

www.lungusa.org

 www.epa.gov/smokefree

www.usfa.dhs.gov/smoking