Secondhand Smoke
What is it, and why is it so dangerous for children?
Secondhand smoke is the combination of the smoke released from the
burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe, and the smoke exhaled by the
person who is smoking.
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Secondhand Smoke and vehicles: What you need to know.
Smoking in a small space, like a car, produces dangerous levels of secondhand smoke (containing
nicotine and other harmful chemicals) in a short amount of time.
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Click Here to visit New Hampshire's AsthmaNow web site.
Eight Things You Should Know
About Secondhand Smoke
- One of every 8 people that dies of a tobacco related
illness is a non-smoker.
- Smoke from the burning end of a cigarette contains over
4,000 chemicals, 40 of them are known to cause cancer.
- Children exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) have an
increased risk of developing respiratory tract infections,
ear infections and asthma.
- On average, children in NH make 1,737 Emergency
Department visits for asthma related symptoms and 12,523
visits for respiratory tract infections annually.
- In NH about ½ of Middle School and ¾ of High
School students surveyed, report exposure to SHS.
- Smoking in a small space, like a car, produces dangerous
levels of secondhand smoke in a short amount of time.
Having an open window or running the air conditioner does
not clear the air.
- Tobacco smoke leaves behind solid particles on furniture,
drapes and carpets. You can keep your children and pets
safe from these particles by smoking outside.
- Even if you smoke, you can protect those around you from
secondhand smoke.
