Secondhand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a mixture of both the smoke given off from a burning cigarette and exhaled from the lungs of a smoker. Tobacco smoke is known to have more than 4,000 chemicals-- many of which are known poisons and potentially cause cancer.
Health Effects of ETS in Adults
ETS exposures are not only associated with an increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular problems, but also specific risks related to asthma. ETS exposure is directly and causally related to both the development of new onset asthma and acute asthma exacerbations. ETS exposure in adults is also associated with:
- More frequent asthma exacerbations
- Increased severity of asthma exacerbations
- Increased lung infections like bronchitis and pneumonia
Health Effects of ETS in Children
In children, there is also enough evidence to suggest ETS exposure is a cause of asthma. Children are potentially more at risk compared to adults because of their small size and the fact they breathe faster than adults - meaning they are exposed to a greater amount of ETS. ETS exposures in children are associated with:
- Decreased lung function, recurrent wheezing, and development of asthma among babies whose mothers smoked during pregnancy
- Increased number of asthma cases among children exposed to ETS
- Increased level of asthma severity and poorer asthma control
- Decreased lung function
- More inflammation in the lung
- Increased daytime and nighttime symptoms
- More frequent exacerbations
- More ER visits and hospitalizations
- More intubations
- More episodes of bronchitis and pneumonia during the first 2 years of life
- Slower rate of lung growth during childhood
Reducing ETS exposure is associated with both fewer visits to the emergency room and fewer hospitalizations related to asthma.
Reducing ETS Exposure
You can do the following to reduce you or your child's ETS exposure and improve your or your child's asthma care:
- Make your home a smoke-free zone: Do not smoke in your home or allow anyone else to. Consider taking the Smoke-Free Home Pledge. Make sure you inform baby-sitters and other caregivers that you do not allow smoking in your home and that you do want people smoking near your child.
- Make your car an extension of your home: Do not smoke in your car or let anyone else do so.
- Do not smoke in the presence of your child or let anyone else do so.
- If you or a family member do smoke: Do not to smoke in your child's presence because of their predisposition to the adverse effects of ETS.
- Quit Smoking: Try to quit and make sure to support those that are trying to quit.
- Do not smoke if you are pregnant.
- Promote smoke-free environments: Do not let your teenager work where they are exposed to work and consider patronizing smoke-free restaurants and businesses.
- Consider getting involved politically: Join a local task force or write your Congressmen or Senator about this highly charged political issue. All of the following have been shown to be effective measures for decreasing ETS exposures:
- Implementation of smoking bans to limit ETS exposure in the workplace and public areas
- Increasing the cost of tobacco products
- Mass media campaigns to prevent people from starting to use tobacco products
Sources:
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Accessed: January 1, 2009. Expert Panel Report 3 (EPR3): Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma
Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers. Environmental Protection Agency. Accessed march 30, 2009. Seconhand Smoke
