From the Tobacco Free Florida Campaign
Second-hand smoke is
dangerous to non-smokers:
• Second-hand smoke speeds up the heart rate, raises blood
pressure and doubles the amount of deadly carbon monoxide
in a non-smoker’s blood.
• Second-hand smoke contains 250 chemicals known to be
toxic, including more than 50 that can cause cancer.
• Second-hand smoke causes irritation of the eyes, nose,
and throat. Second-hand smoke can also irritate the lungs,
leading to coughing, excessive phlegm and chest
discomfort.
• Nonsmokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home
or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30% and
their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.
• Breathing second-hand smoke has immediate harmful effects
on the cardiovascular system that can increase the risk of
heart attack. People who already have heart disease are at
especially high risk.
• More than 126 million non-smoking Americans continue to
be exposed to second- hand smoke in homes, vehicles,
workplaces, and public places. Most exposure to tobacco
smoke occurs in homes and workplaces.
• There is no risk-free level of second-hand smoke
exposure. Even brief exposure can be dangerous.
Second-hand smoke is
deadly:
• Second-hand smoke has been estimated to cause 38,000
deaths per year.
• Second-hand smoke causes about 3,400 deaths each year
from lung cancer in non- smokers.
Second-hand smoke is especially harmful
to children:
• Almost 60% of U.S. children aged 3–11
years—or almost 22 million children—are exposed to
second-hand smoke.
• About 25% of children aged 3–11 years live with at least
one smoker, compared to only about 7% of nonsmoking
adults.
• There are an estimated 150,000 to 300,000 cases every
year of infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia in
infants and children under 18 months of age who breathe
second-hand smoke.
• Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at
increased risk for bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections,
more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung
growth.
Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention