What is secondhand smoke?
Secondhand smoke refers to smoke from a cigarette. It includes mainstream smoke or smoke that is exhaled by the smoker and sidestream smoke or smoke given out by the burning end of a cigarette. It is sometimes also known as environmental smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. Those around a smoker can be exposed to this kind of smoke and are called passive smokers. It is considered to be harmful and may cause health problems in some people.
Is secondhand smoke harmful?
A lot of search has been done in the last few years regarding the effects of secondhand smoke on health. Although there have been many controversies surrounding many of these, there are others that have proven that secondhand smoke does affect health. There are more than fifty chemicals present in ETS that are either toxic or carcinogenic, sometimes both.
- Benzene: It is a chemical that is present in gasoline.
- Arsenic: It is a toxic heavy metal.
- Cadmium: It is a metal that is often used in car batteries.
- Polonium-210: It is a radioactive chemical.
- Nickel: It is an element that is metallic in nature.
- Vinyl chloride: It is a toxic chemical that is used in the manufacture of plastic products.
- Beryllium: It is a metal that is highly toxic.
- Chromium: It is also an element that is metallic in nature.
- Ethylene oxide: It is a chemical that is used in sterilization of medical equipments.
It depends on the type of cigarette, flavoring, wrapping paper and many other factors that determine the presence and concentration of these chemicals in passive smoke.
Most of these are highly toxic to humans and should not enter the body. But when someone is exposed to secondhand smoke, they are exposed to these chemicals which then get accumulated in the body. Exposure and accumulation leads to or aggravates various health disorders in those who are exposed to ETS. Breathlessness, asthma, heart diseases, ear infections, pneumonia, cancers and SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) are some of the common health problems that are linked to exposure to secondhand smoke.
This is why, if you are a non-smoker, it is best to stay that way. But if you are a smoker, it is best to quit. But if quitting is not an option for you as of now, you should be very responsible when you smoke so as not to affect others along with yourself.
