In Loving Memory of Angie Brazzell: The Dangers of Second Hand Smoke!

Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke that
comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. You also may have
heard it called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), passive, or involuntary
smoke. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances. Many of them are
dangerous poisons and can cause cancer. Anyone exposed to secondhand smoke
inhales these substances.

Lung disease, including lung cancer, is the third leading cause of death in
the U.S. Secondhand smoke:

Can cause lung cancer in nonsmokers; the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency lists it as a Group A carcinogen, a rating used only for substances
(i.e., asbestos) proven to cause cancer in humans .
Will cause an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths this year.
Can be a direct health threat to people who already have heart and lung
diseases.
Increases the risk of serious lung disease during the first two years of a
child's life.

Did You Know?

Nonsmokers who live with smokers are more likely to develop lung cancer
than other nonsmoking adults.
If you have asthma, secondhand smoke can make your breathing problems
worse.
Young children are especially sensitive to secondhand smoke. A baby who
lives in a home where one or both parents smoke is more likely to have lung
disease serious enough to need treatment in a hospital during the first two
years of life.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home are more likely to cough
and wheeze and to have middle ear problems.

How To Protect Your Family At Home

Don't allow smoking in your home. Ask smokers to smoke outside or, if you
must, limit smoking to a separately ventilated room.
Be supportive. Help the smoker to quit.
Place "Thank You for Not Smoking" signs around the house.
Do not allow babysitters or others who work in your home to smoke in the
house.

What If People Smoke Where You Work?

NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has determined
that secondhand smoke may cause lung cancer in exposed workers.

On-the-job exposure to secondhand smoke can be four times higher than in
the home.
Secondhand smoke can irritate your eyes, nose and throat.
Some workers are already exposed to substances that can cause lung
disease. Secondhand smoke in the workplace can only increase the danger.
To protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke, the workplace must be totally
smoke free or smoking must be limited to a separate, enclosed area with its
own ventilation system. As of 1991, about 4 out of 10 American companies
with smoking policies were smoke free.

A Special Message For Smokers

Smoke-free worksites can be tough on smokers. Here are some tips
for coping:

In smoke free areas, do something to take your mind off smoking. Take a
walk or stretch. Have a glass of water or a light snack.
If you must smoke, make sure you are not in a "No Smoking" area
before you light up and don't let cigarettes smolder in ashtrays.
Try to quit smoking. See if your company offers any programs to help you
quit or contact one of the organizations listed on the back of this booklet.

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