Many of us breathe in second-hand smoke – whether we’re aware of it or not – in public places, around doorways of buildings and at work. Second-hand smoke has the same chemicals in it as the tobacco smoke breathed in by a smoker. So if you’re sitting beside someone who’s smoking, you and everyone else around you are smoking too.
Second-hand smoke is what smokers breathe out. They breathe smoke into their lungs, but then they breathe it out into the air around you. And the smoke from a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar – that’s second-hand smoke too.
Second-hand smoke and cancer
Being around second-hand smoke puts you at risk of developing lung cancer. It can also increase your risk of cancers of the larynx and pharynx.
Hundreds of the chemicals in second-hand smoke are toxic, and more than 70 of them can cause cancer. Every year, about 1,000 Canadians who don’t smoke die from second-hand smoke.
Second-hand smoke makes you sick
No amount of second-hand smoke is safe. It’s not only a cancer risk – it can affect your heart too. You’re at a higher risk for heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
Second-hand smoke also makes you more congested and cough more. It can irritate your skin, eyes, nose and throat. And if you have allergies or breathing problems (like asthma), second-hand smoke can make them worse.
Research also shows that there may be a link between second-hand smoke and breast cancer risk.
Third-hand smoke – what’s that?
Every time a person smokes in your home, the toxic chemicals from second-hand smoke travel through the air and land on your carpet, furniture, curtains and clothing. They even land on any dust that’s in your home. These chemicals stay around after the cigarette is out – this is called third-hand smoke.
If you smoke inside your car, it gets coated in third-hand smoke too.
Second-hand smoke hurts babies
Children who were exposed to second-hand smoke before they were born are at a higher risk of developing childhood liver cancer.
If you’re pregnant and you smoke, your baby is smoking too. Several chemicals in second-hand smoke can pass into your baby’s blood, affecting how your unborn baby develops. If you smoke or are around second-hand smoke when you’re pregnant, you are more likely to:
- miscarry
- deliver early
- have problems during labour
Second-hand smoke can harm babies before and after they are born. Babies that were exposed to second-hand smoke before they were born are more likely to get sick than other babies. They are more likely to die from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Third-hand smoke hurts too
Third-hand smoke is also harmful – especially for babies. Babies crawl on the floor and put things in their mouth. This means they take in more dust than adults, so they’re exposed to more third-hand smoke.
Be healthy for you and your baby
Mothers who don’t smoke are healthier. They have easier pregnancies and labours, and faster recoveries after giving birth. If you quit smoking during pregnancy and start again after your baby is born, keep in mind that chemicals go directly from breast milk to the baby.
If you smoke, consider quitting before you get pregnant. If you’re already pregnant, try to quit as soon as possible. Smokers’ Helpline can help.
Second-hand smoke hurts children
When children breathe in second-hand smoke, they are more at risk of getting sick than adults because children’s bodies are still growing and they breathe faster than adults. This means they breathe in more harmful chemicals. Plus, their immune systems are less developed and can’t protect them as well from getting sick from second-hand smoke.
Compared to children of non-smokers, children who regularly breathe in second-hand smoke are more likely to suffer from:
- coughing and wheezing
- painful ear infections
- asthma and other breathing problems
- bronchitis, croup and pneumonia
Second-hand smoke may even harm the ability of your children and teens to read and do math. Children exposed to second-hand smoke have lower scores on these tests than children in smoke-free homes. Children of smokers are also more likely to start smoking themselves.
Your pets are also at risk
Pets are more likely to develop cancer and other health problems if they live in a home with smokers. Second-hand smoke has been linked to several types of cancer in dogs, cats and birds. Third-hand smoke is dangerous too. Pets lick third-hand smoke from their fur when they groom themselves. So do birds, when they pick through their feathers. Grooming adds to your pet’s cancer risk, especially for cats.