Secondhand smoke is more dangerous than direct smoke, causing over 300 deaths from lung cancer each year. It contains twice the amount of tar and five times the amount of carbon monoxide. Short-term effects include coughing and sore throat, while long-term effects include heart disease and lung cancer. Many countries have banned smoking in enclosed public spaces, which has financial benefits and is environmentally friendly.
Secondhand smoke is the exposure of non-smokers to cigarette smoke from people around them who smoke. It is estimated that over 300 people die of lung cancer each year due to its effects. Secondhand smoke is even more dangerous than direct smoke. Smoke releases 4,000 chemicals into the air, the same amount a person gets from direct inhalation, but since there may be more than one person smoking, this smoke may include a greater amount of these chemicals.
When a smoker burns a cigarette, they usually only inhale for about 30 seconds total, but the cigarette burns for about 10 minutes. The non-smoker is therefore also exposed to cigarette smoke and chemicals for this period of time. About 50 of the chemicals in smoke are carcinogens, and it is these that cause cancer.
Figures show that secondhand smoke contains twice the amount of tar found in inhaled smoke. This is because smoke in air burns more slowly. It also contains five times the amount of carbon monoxide, which causes a reduction in the amount of oxygen in the blood.
In addition to death, secondhand smoke inhalation has many short-term effects. These include cough and sore throat, headache, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and eye irritation. Smoking also contributes to a higher risk of heart disease and asthma.
Long-term effects of inhaling secondhand smoke include strokes and heart disease. It also causes lung cancer and other related cancers and reduces the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. Children who are prone to cigarette smoke have a high risk of developing asthma and are likely to suffer from other breathing difficulties.
Many countries around the world have banned smoking in all enclosed public spaces to counter these health risks. Restaurants, bars and nightclubs have banned smoking on their premises in countries such as Scotland and Ireland, followed by England in 2007. In the United States, New York has been banned from smoking in public places since 2005.
In addition to the public health benefits, these bans also have a financial benefit. There are many long-term medical costs associated with smoking and its effects for passive smokers. There are also many indirect costs, such as higher insurance premiums, decreased productivity and increased absenteeism. The smoking ban has also made the atmosphere more environmentally friendly, although until car exhaust is also banned, people will never be entirely green.
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