The health risks imposed by second and third hand smoke are well known. You may avoid smoking in the same room where your loved ones are present. Whenever you get the urge, you may smoke in another room. You may roll down your car’s window and smoke thinking that it will not cause any problems for others. If you think so, then you are absolutely wrong! Read on to know more about second and third hand smoke.

The truth is that smoking in your car, turning on a fan or going to another room really doesn’t protect your near and dear ones from the health risks of smoking. The second hand smoke will still remain in your home. Your family is exposed to number of ailments ranging from mild ear infections to serious diseases like cancer. Also, second hand smoke is not the only danger. Even inhaling smoke particles from an extinguished cigarette is equally hazardous. These particles cling to carpets, hair and clothing. This is known as third hand smoke. Babies and small children are most vulnerable to third hand smoke.

Second Hand Smoke

When you smoke around your near and dear ones, you are putting them at risk as there are 50 carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. In non-smokers, second hand smoke is believed to cause nearly 3,000 lung cancer deaths every year. Also, it is the main reason for 40,000 deaths due to heart disease every year. You children are at risk of developing several health conditions when they breathe second hand smoke. These health conditions include:

• Behavior disorders
• Low reading levels
• Developmental delays
• Stunted growth
• SIDS
• Pneumonia
• Bronchitis
• Asthma
• Chronic middle ear infections
• Cancer

Third Hand Smoke

Remember that the risks of smoking simply don’t stop with the air in your room. The smoke particles can cling to your household items, hair, clothing and furniture. These particles embed themselves in your draperies and rugs. If you think that smoking outside will not cause any threats, then think once again! You carry the smoking particles inside with you. Third hand smoke is toxic to newborns and small children.