Everyday Second Hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke: Environmental tobacco smoke that is inhaled involuntarily or passively by someone who is not smoking.1

The 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's Report on The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke concluded that there is "no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke."2 The report states that "secondhand smoke contains many chemicals that can quickly irritate and damage the lining of the airways. Even brief exposure can result in upper airway changes in healthy persons and can lead to more frequent and more asthma attacks in children who already have asthma."2 According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, heart disease, and acute respiratory effects.3 A study conducted by the California EPA found secondhand smoke causes almost 50,000 deaths in adult nonsmokers in the United States each year, including approximately 3,400 from lung cancer and 22,700-69,600 from heart disease.4 The toxins in secondhand smoke cause respiratory problems, such as wheezing, asthma attacks, shortness of breath, and excessive coughing long after exposure.5

A little exposure goes a long way.
5 minutes: The aorta (the main artery carrying blood from the heart) stiffens. Your heart must work harder to pump blood.
20 minutes: Blood platelets become sticky, cause damage to your heart and arteries, and can lead to blood clots;
30 minutes: Risk for heart attack increases. Coronary arteries show the same damage as in a smoker. The bodys ability to handle LDL (bad) cholesterol is decreased.6

The Surgeon General has concluded that eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure. Smoke-free rules in homes and vehicles can reduce secondhand smoke exposure among children and nonsmoking adults. Some studies indicate that these rules can also help smokers quit and can reduce the risk of adolescents becoming smokers.2

Helpful Links
Campus-Community Alliance for Smoke-free Environments
http://www.casemo-org/
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_stati...
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/PED...
American Lung Association
http://breathehealthy.org/index.php/p...
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org/presente...
Americans for Non-smokers Rights
http://www.no-smoke.org/
MO state information
http://www.dhss.mo.gov/SmokingAndToba...

This video was created as a class project for FCM 8420 Principles of Epidemiology and Journ 7236/4236 Psychology of Advertising, Spring 2009. Supporting information for this video was generously provided by the Student Health Center. The content of this video does not necessarily represent the official views of the University of Missouri.

References
1.MedTerms.com (2002). Definition of Second-hand smoke, from http://www.medterms.com/script/main/a...
2.U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006.
3.American Lung Association. Second Hand Smoke Fact Sheet. American Lung Association. Accessed 3/23/2009 from: http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O...
4.California Environmental Protection Agency. Identification of Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Toxic Air Contaminant. Executive Summary. June 2005.
5.Appendix II Findings of the Scientific Review Panel: Findings of the Scientific Review Panel on Proposed Identification of Environmental Tobacco Smoke as a Toxic Air Contaminant as adopted at the Panel's June 24, 2005 Meeting," California Air Resources Board (ARB), September 12, 2005.
6.6.Amercans for Nonsmokers' Rights (2006). (Workers Education Flyer) Secondhand Smoke: A Little Exposure goes a Long Way Retrieved 4/6/2009, from http://www.no-smoke.org/pdf/workerseducationalflyer.pdf

Category:

Education

Tags:

• FCM8420
• Spring 2009
• SHS
• Second Hand Smoke
• 8420Epi2009

[HealthIT70]

You all understand this was a cheezy youtube video for an epidemiological class, right? This is not promoting any agenda, it just facts we found based on research. I don't understand the hostility.

[edwardthomasbennett1]

i know this shit is true i can feel my body damaged from must inhaling a wiff of second hand smoke. skin gets looser/ harder to breath. my dick gets softer.

[polevaultrockstr]

@MsLainy try informing yourself properly on the subject, as there are countless studies disproving your trash. Of course the government is going to say its bad, since they convinced you it was they have been able to tax the hell out of and limit the rights of honest, law abiding citizens that want to relax. Try informing yourself on a subject before carelessly blasting off on it.

[polevaultrockstr]

Your facts can be dis proven and show to be ill informed when spending a small amount of time away form a mainstream, government answer to the question. Here is a site with a ton of evidence that shows second hand smoking is now harmful and is not a cause of lung cancer. forces(.)org(/)evidence(/)evid­(/)second(.)htm

[R0undAboutMidnight]

Go fuck youself bitch.

[LarrryJoe]

the biggest KILLER of the masses is obesity TheUSA hasthe most fat people on earth. Secondhand smoke is blamed for asthma wspecially in children - But how come that despite a huge reduction in smoking asthma in childrenand young adults is higer than ever ???

[NancyNurseHottie]

HEY IDIOT, SMOKING KILLS! Why do you think most states now ban it in public places?  DUH!!

Obviously, you have serious self-esteem issues. Better get back in to see your shrink again, ASAP! The Dr. is IN ~~~~~~>

[jsmoke100]

Especially outside. There is no way that the smoke is concentrated enough unless you would happen to completely inhale a cloud. Just walking past a smoker with a cigarette does absolutely nothing.

[jsmoke100]

Those facts about secondhand smoke are a bunch of BS. Damage after 30 secs? Same as a smoker after 5 min or whatever? I seriously doubt it.

[esprt09]

Step 1: Remove all anti-smokers from the room.

Step 2: Light your cigarette and enjoy!