What is second-hand smoke?
When you smoke a cigarette, people around you breathe in second-hand smoke.
Second-hand smoke is the smoke that:
- you breathe out from your lungs
- that drifts from the burning tip of your cigarette into the air around you.
Some people call this environmental tobacco smoke. Other people describe breathing it in as passive smoking.
When a person inhales second-hand smoke, they are exposed to toxic chemicals. These chemicals can cause diseases in children and adults.
Second-hand smoke can make children very sick
Second-hand smoke can make children very sick, as it increases their risk of:
- reduced lung capacity
- chest infections
- middle-ear disease (glue ear)
- childhood asthma, breathlessness and wheezing
- risk of other serious health problems.
Children are quite vulnerable to the effects of second-hand smoke because:
- their lungs are less mature
- they take more breaths every minute
- their bodies may be less able to detoxify the toxic chemicals from smoke
- they may not be able to easily move away from smoky areas around the house.
Compared to children who are not exposed, children exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to develop health problems.
Reduced lung capacity
Children’s lungs continue to grow as they get older. The number of air sacs in the lungs increases between birth and 4 years of age. This is quite a vulnerable time for lung growth and development.
Second-hand smoke reduces lung function during childhood. This means that it stops children’s lungs from working as well as they should. Children exposed to smoke may not reach their full potential lung capacity (be able to breathe in as much air) when they are older.
Having weaker lungs during childhood can mean a person is vulnerable to other lung damage during adulthood. This includes damage caused by:
- active smoking
- second-hand smoke exposure later in life
- air pollution
- chemicals in the workplace.
In older age, people who had poor lung development as children risk developing serious lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Chest infections
Children exposed to second-hand smoke in the home are at higher risk of chest infections, including:
This is especially the case for children younger than 2 years old. Babies exposed to second-hand smoke in the home are more likely to develop chest infections than those who are not exposed.
Middle-ear disease (glue ear)
Second-hand smoke can cause ear disease in children.
The passage that connects the middle ear to the back of the throat is called the eustachian tube. This tube can become blocked or swollen, causing fluid to build up in the middle ear. This fluid can become infected with bacteria or other germs.
Fluid in the ear usually gets better by itself. However, this may be less likely in children of parents who smoke than among children of non-smokers.
After the infection clears, the fluid may remain in the long term. This is known as glue ear. Having glue ear early in life can lead to:
- hearing loss
- long-term problems with speech
- problems with learning and getting along with other people.
Childhood asthma, breathlessness and wheezing
Second-hand smoke causes cough, phlegm, breathlessness and wheezing in children of primary school age. Children with these symptoms may be less able to take part in many activities such as sport.
School-aged children are more likely to have wheeze illnesses or asthma if one or more of their parents smoke. The more people smoke inside the home, the more likely children are to get breathless and to wheeze.
Second-hand smoke makes asthma more severe. Among children with asthma, those exposed to second-hand smoke are nearly twice as likely to have had to go to hospital for a serious episode of asthma. Severe asthma attacks can be life-threatening.
Risks of other serious health problems
Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are at higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Learn more about SIDS and how to protect your baby by following the safe sleeping guidelines.
Complications during surgery
Children who have been exposed to a lot of second-hand smoke and who are having a general anaesthetic during surgery may be more likely to suffer breathing problems.
Children exposed to second-hand smoke may have a different response to drugs administered during surgery.
Inhaling second-hand smoke exposes your child to toxic chemicals
Tobacco smoke is a toxic mix of more than 7,000 chemicals. These include about 70 chemicals known to cause cancer.
Almost 100 of the chemicals in tobacco smoke are toxic to the nervous system, immune system, heart and liver. They can also cause eye, skin and breathing problems.
Toxic chemicals include:
- hydrogen cyanide – a gas used in chemical weapons
- ammonia – used in industrial cleaners.
Breathing in any amount of second-hand smoke increases the risk of disease. Second-hand smoke stays in the air for a long time even though you can’t see it. Any children spending time in a place where someone has smoked can also breathe in second-hand smoke.
Babies and young children are less able to control the space around them. They may not be able to explain when smoke is bothering them or leave the room to protect themselves.
When children breathe in second-hand smoke, the toxic chemicals go into their lungs. From there, they move into their blood stream and go to every part of their body.
Second-hand smoke can settle onto hard surfaces inside the home. It can get inside the fabric of furniture and curtains and leak out into the air later. This is called third-hand smoke. Children who touch these surfaces can also pick up chemicals when they put their hands to their mouth.
How can I protect my child from second-hand smoke?
The best way to protect children from second-hand smoke is to stop smoking completely.
In the meantime, make your home and car totally smoke-free. If you smoke outside the house, always close doors and windows first. When outdoors, smoke away from others, especially children.
Smoking in a separate room is not enough to protect children. Opening windows or using air filters to try to clean the air also does not get rid of second-hand smoke.
Chemicals from tobacco smoke are found in the breast milk of mothers who smoke. These are swallowed by their babies. Breastfeeding helps protect babies from getting chest and ear infections, however this protective effect may be reduced if the mother smokes.
Having a smoke-free home not only protects infants from second-hand smoke. It could also help adults who live in the house to quit. Children of parents who quit may be less likely to take up smoking in the future than children whose parents continue to smoke.
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