How Dangerous Is Secondhand Smoke Really? Exploring the Health Risks and Industry Claims

Hi CiteHR friends,

Here is a report on dangers of "second hand smoking".

Quote:

Hundreds of studies have indicated that the harm caused by secondhand smoke is far greater than earlier believed. One report includes these findings:

¶There is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can cause harm, especially for people suffering from heart or respiratory diseases.

¶For nonsmoking adults, exposure raises the risk of heart disease by 25 percent to 30 percent and of cancer by 20 percent to 30 percent. It accounted for 46,000 premature deaths from heart disease and 3,000 premature deaths from cancer last year.

¶Secondhand smoke is a cause of sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, accounting for 430 deaths last year. The risk is elevated for children whose mothers were exposed during pregnancy and for children exposed in their homes after birth.

¶The impact on the health and development of children is more severe than previously thought. "Children are especially vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke,".

¶Efforts to minimize the effect of secondhand smoke by separating smokers and nonsmokers are ineffective, as are ventilation systems in a shared space.

¶While exposure has declined, as many as 60 percent of nonsmokers show biological evidence of encountering secondhand smoke, and 22 percent of children are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes.

Studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control show that great progress has been made in reducing exposure. The amount of cotinine — the form nicotine takes after being metabolized — in blood samples fell by 75 percent among adults, according to specimens taken from 1999 to 2002 that were compared with samples taken a decade earlier.

Unquote::

Now here is what the tobacco manufacturers say...................

Tobacco companies say the risks of secondhand smoke are unproved and overstated. In a statement on its Web site, R. J. Reynolds says, "It seems unlikely that secondhand smoke presents any significant harm to otherwise healthy nonsmoking adults; and, given the extensive smoking bans and restrictions that have already been enacted, nonsmokers can easily avoid exposure to secondhand smoke."

A spokesman for the company, David Howard, said yesterday, "Bottom line, we believe adults should be able to patronize establishments that permit smoking if they choose to do so," according to The Associated Press.

Once again, two sides of the coin!

But, whatever it may be smoking is injurious to health!

Thanks

Bala

Hi Bala,

But, whatever it may be, smoking is injurious to health!

We all know this, but we make the same mistake, like a crow.

Do you know the history of crows?

I'll tell you.

Every evening, all crows will conduct a meeting, and the conclusion of the meeting is, "we will not touch dirty items tomorrow onwards," but they attack dirty items the next morning. Similarly, somebody teaches us that we should not do certain things because they are not good, bad, and so on... but we repeat the same mistakes.

Regards,
Sidhu

Hi, Sidhuji,

You have put across a very unpalatable truth. How do we get out of this rut is what we have to think, think deeply, discuss, and decide.

Bala

Hi Bala,

Good morning,

I'm not an expert, but I believe that through education, we can persuade others. Once people realize the negative effects of such harmful items, they will naturally start to abandon this habit.

Regards,
Sidheshwar

A secondary or secondhand smoking means passive smoking. It means the person is not directly smoking but is standing/sitting near to a person who is smoking directly, i.e., an active smoker.

It's true that there is more risk for the life of a passive smoker than an active smoker.

Regards,
VISHAL

Secondary smoking is ......
Let me tell you an example:
You are traveling in a car with a friend, and the windows are open. Your friend lights a cigarette and starts smoking. Since you are sitting next to him, the smoke will come towards you as well. Unknowingly, you inhale that smoke while you breathe. That is secondary smoking - you are not actually smoking, but you happen to be standing near somebody who is smoking, and that affects you as well. Now, imagine the effects on the person who is actually smoking.
Clear?
Thanks,
Bala

OhhBala,

Thanks for your efforts. Now, I understand very thoroughly the meaning of secondary smoking. Thanks!!!!!

I am sure the effects you have listed are really harmful and dangerous.

Regards,
Rupa

Thank you for posting such an informative piece, Bala. We are all aware of the deleterious effects of smoking, but some people just can't understand the harm they are causing to others by sticking to their bad habits.

I, however, get more disturbed to see women, especially those with young children, smoking in all possible places in the US. I wonder how they are going to preach to their children about the ill effects of smoking when they themselves are poisoning their lungs.

It's really difficult to convince these hardcore smokers to quit smoking. At most, one can do is to stop them from smoking in public places.

Hi Tiya,

Welcome to CiteHR. (My apologies for being late in welcoming.) You are possibly right - the only thing one could do is stop smoking in public places.

Thanks,
Bala