Second-Hand+Smoke



Passive smoking occurs when cigarette smoke is inhaled from the environment by nonsmokers. Other terms include environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), involuntary smoke, or second-hand smoke. Passive smoking is made up of two types of smokes, one being sidestream smoke, the smoke arising from a burning tobacco product such as a cigarette or cigar. The other is known as widestream smoke, the smoke given off by tobacco users. (Giraldi, Fovi De Ruggiero, Marsella & De Luca d’Alessandro, 2013) Second-hand sm oke is widespread and people may be exposed in places such as homes, workplaces, bars, restaurants, any type of public setting. A majority of second hand smoking comes from cigarettes, but can also come from cigars, pipes, and other related tobacco products (Giraldi et al., 2013)
 * Second Hand Smoking **

Passive smoking is said to be related to diseases such as acute cardiovascular disease, cancer and other diseases. In acute cardiovascular disease, a non-smoker is exposed to the many negative elements within a smoke. For example, cigarettes may contain carbon monoxide, nicotine, and other dangerous non specified elements. Anyone can be exposed (regardless of whether you are a non smoker or not) in everyday life stations to these elements, increasing the risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiac  events (Giraldi et al., 2013). Acute cardiovascular disease is said to be the number one leading cause of death in all industrialized countries. One study on women who did not smoke found that exposure to second-hand smoke was related to a 15% increased risk of dying by heart disease (Giraldi et al., 2013).
 * Cardiovascular diseases **

Environmental tobacco smoke has also been found to be a risk factor for obstructive pulmonary disease. There is not a threshold dose for obstructive pulmonary disease so it is important to understand that even a tiny amount of exposure may be harmful. Certain types of people are even more susceptible to the disease. They are Asthmatic/bronchitis patients, children, and patients with heart problems. One European study found that the risk of lung cancer increased by 16% for non-smokers with a smoking spouse, and a 17% increase for those exposed in the workplace. A relationship was found between dose and response, with a higher exposure to smoke environments relating to higher risks of developing lung cancer (Giraldi et al., 2013).
 * Respiratory Diseases **

media type="custom" key="24446120" Bladder and rectal cancer has also been said to be related to second-hand smoking even when one is exposed to less carcinogens as opposed to active smokers. Other factors related to passive smoking are diminished cognitive abilities in children and adolescents, sudden infant death syndrome, increased rates of lower respiratory illness and asthma (Giraldi et al., 2013). Studies have also found that children whose mothers have been exposed to second-hand smoking produce lower APGAR scores, which measures measure the health of children immediately after birth. It has also been confirmed that women infants of passive smokers at the age of 2 or 3 had higher BMI indexes (above normal) than their counterparts, the mothers who were not exposed (Giraldi et al., 2013).
 * Other Diseases **

A relatively new concept is the idea of third-hand smoke. Here the smoke comes from the remains of the active smoking in nicotine that can be transferred to surfaces of indoor environments. For example, residue could be left on the carpet, curtains, tables or clothes. Third-hand smoke reacts with the nitrous acid (HNO2) forming tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNAs), which are long acting carcinogens present in tobacco smoke (Giraldi et al., 2013).
 * Third-hand Smoke **