What second hand smoke does to you
What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a combination of the smoke from the burning ends of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, and exhaled from smokers. It contains over 50
cancer causing chemicals, plus other toxic substances that are often in greater concentrations than the smoker inhales. These chemicals include acetone (paint stripper); ammonia (toilet cleaner); cyanide (rat killer); and carbon monoxide (car exhaust fumes).
What are the health effects of secondhand smoke exposure?
Secondhand smoke exposure causes approximately 350 deaths in New Zealand every year, including 140 from workplace exposure. In adults,
secondhand smoke exposure can cause
coronary heart disease; lung cancer; acute stroke; eye and nasal irritation; and nasal sinus cancer. It can aggravate asthma; heart disease; emphysema; and cystic fibrosis and it has been linked with decreased lung function; breast, cervical, stomach, liver, uterine, kidney and myeloid leukaemia cancers; infertility; fatal adult asthma attacks; and spontaneous abortion and miscarriage. Children are especially vulnerable to
secondhand smoke as their lungs are smaller and more delicate. Among New Zealand children, secondhand smoke exposure causes more than 500 hospital admissions of children under two with chest infections; over 27,000 GP consultations for respiratory problems; 1000 cases of glue ear; 50 cases of meningococcal disease; 20,000 asthma attacks; and 50 deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS or cot death).
