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Article Index Air Quality How-To Air Quality Reference Air Purifier Information Did You Know? Tobacco smoke contains around 4,000 chemicals, including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Over 200 of these chemicals are poisonous, and 40 are known to cause cancer in humans.
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Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)Josh Feinmann, Clean Air Advice
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has listed ETS as a group A carcinogen, a classification reserved strictly for substances proven to cause cancer in humans. Exposure to ETS may cause eye, nose and throat irritation. Other studies have linked it to the onset of chest pain due to its effects on the cardiovascular system. ETS has been linked to close to 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year in nonsmokers. Second hand smoke poses an even greater threat to those already suffering from lung and heart diseases. Due to their developing lungs, young children are especially susceptible to ETS. Children who are exposed to second hand smoke are placed at a much higher risk of developing lower respiratory tract infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis. An increased exposure to ETS is also associated with an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as the development of asthma in non-asthmatic children.
Involuntary exposure to ETS is a common yet serious public health hazard. By adopting and enforcing appropriate regulatory policies this problem can be completely prevented. Maintaining a smoke-free environment is the only true way to reduce harmful exposure to ETS and in turn you will greatly improve your indoor air quality. Related Articles |
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Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), sometimes referred to as "second hand smoke" or "passive smoking", is a combination of smoke exhaled from the smoker and that emitted directly from the end of a burning cigarette, pipe or cigar. ETS contains around 4,000 chemicals, including carbon monoxide and formaldehyde. Over 200 of these chemicals are poisonous and 40 are known to cause cancer in humans. People are commonly subjected to poor indoor air quality due to ETS in their own homes, workplaces and public areas such as bars and restaurants. 
Exposure to ETS is something that can be reduced relatively easily. You can start by not allowing anyone to smoke in your home. More of our time is spent in our homes than anywhere else. Eliminating smoking in your home improves your indoor air quality. Make sure your workplace enforces its smoking policy. If it does not have one already in place try to get them to implement one. Make sure any outside organizations that assist in the care of your children, such as schools and daycares, have smoking policies in place to protect from exposure to ETS.