Inhaling other people’s tobacco smoke is referred to as ‘passive smoking’. This consists of “sidestream” smoke from the burning end of the cigarette, and “mainstream” smoke that a smoker breathes in and subsequently exhales. Sidestream smoke is responsible for approximately 85% of the smoke in a room.
Here Are Some Facts You Need to Know About Passive Smoking:
- Tobacco smoke includes in excess of 4000 chemicals in the form of particles and gases. Tar, nicotine, benzene and benzo (a) pyrene make up the particulate phase. Carbon monoxide, ammonia, dimethylnitrosamine, formaldehyde, hydrogen cyanide and acrolein constitute the gas phase.
- It has been anticipated that tobacco smoke includes as many as 60 substances which lead to or are known to result in cancer. There are also many substances in tobacco smoke that are a source of irritation to the tissues of the respiratory system.
- Tobacco smoke has been categorized as a class A carcinogen, positioning it alongside asbestos and arsenic.
- Inhaling smoke coming from other people’s gigarettes can lead to irritation of the eye, headache, cough, sore throat, dizziness and nausea.
- An exposure of merely thirty minutes to cigarette smoke exhaled by other people is considered adequate to diminish the blood flow through the heart.
- Evidence also suggests that individuals with asthma can experience a considerable deterioration in lung function when subjected to smoke from other people.
- People who do not smoke but are subjected to passive smoking in the home, have a twenty five percent enhanced possibility of heart disease and lung cancer.
- New studies indicate that the threat of coronary heart disease is augmented by 50 to 60 per cent in people exposed to passive smoking in their workplaces together with public places as well.
- Studies also reveal that passive smoking leads to lung cancer and ischemic heart disease in adult non-smokers. It also results in respiratory ailment, cot death, middle ear disease and asthmatic attacks in children.
- There is also certain proof that indicates that passive smoking may impact the mental growth of children.
- A considerable number of individuals are exposed to large amounts of tobacco smoke frequently coupled with the fact that numerous children are subjected to tobacco smoke at home. Studies also reveal that children, whose parents smoke in their dwelling place, are more vulnerable to bronchitis and pneumonia and have to be admitted to hospital in the first year of life.
- A large number of children are admitted to hospital yearly due to the harmful impacts of passive smoking. Prohibiting smoking in public places is the only way of tackling the problems arising out of passive smoking.
However individuals who smoke should realize that smoking in public places can be a source of great inconvenience to people who are around. Hence it is imperative that they should refrain from smoking in places where others are present. It is the only way to deal with passive smoking in an effective manner. Parents who smoke at home should be aware of the consequences that their action can have on their children, and so should not smoke in front of them.
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