Saskatchewan Lifestyles  Tobacco

Health: Tobacco Industry Essay
Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is harmful and dangerous, but many people don't recognize it to be a health risk. Tons of people around the world are exposed to secondhand smoke everyday and do not realize or take notice of the many chemicals they are inhaling. Secondhand smoke affects everyone; children, teens, adults, and even unborn babies. There is evidence to prove that these groups of people are harmed by secondhand smoke.
"Cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke pass from mother to unborn baby, whether the mother smokes or not, a study suggests"1 says a health watch representative. These chemicals can cause genetic damage and may also be a beginning to childhood leukemia and cancer. The level of chemicals from secondhand smoke passed to unborn babies is lower than that of smokers, but there is still a high risk which people might not think of. It is very important for pregnant women to avoid areas in which they may be exposed to any secondhand smoke, so that they are not exposing their unborn baby to these potential health risks.
"Young children who are developing and growing are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. (Irish Cancer Society)"2 Whether or not parents smoke, young children are still getting exposed to secondhand smoke. Complications such as asthma attacks, chest infections, ear infections, weak lungs, etc. can arise from exposure to secondhand smoke. Parents who do smoke put their children at a higher risk. "Children whose parents smoke are more likely to miss school due to weak health and are less likely to do well at sports and physical activity.(Irish Cancer Society)"3
In adults, secondhand smoke is also bad and should be avoided. Some of the health risks which are associated with secondhand smoke are: eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer and heart disease. It is important to remember that the more secondhand smoke a person breathes, the higher the health risks become. Some ways to reduce the amount of secondhand smoke we breath are: to not allow people to smoke in your house, do not smoke if children are nearby, and do not smoke in a vehicle because the concentration level becomes very high in a small space.
There are many studies which prove that there are harmful effects on people that inhale secondhand smoke. It is true that the risks are not as high for those who actually smoke, but everyone should be aware of the dangers that lurk in the cloud of smoke which hangs in the air around a smoker. These dangers are real for all people, especially unborn babies and young children. It may be a health risk which many people do not recognize or they just choose to ignore.

by: Heidi


Bibliography
- Smoke free. Growing up in smoke is dangerous. Retrieved December 4,
2001
from the World Wide Web:
http://www.smoke-free.eire.org/secondhand.html

- Secondhand smoke in pregnancy. Retrieved December 4, 2001 from the
World Wide Web:
http://www.fensende.com/Users/swnymphs/refs/smoke.html

- Environmental tobacco smoke. Retrieved December 4, 2001 from the
World Wide Web:
http://www.epa.govliaqlets/healthrisks.html

 

Footnotes

1. "Cancer-causing chemicals in cigarette smoke pass from mother to unborn baby, whether the mother smokes or not, a study suggests"

2. "Young children who are developing and growing are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. (Irish Cancer Society)"

3. "Children whose parents smoke are more likely to miss school due to weak health and are less likely to do well at sports and physical activity.(Irish Cancer Society)"