Secondhand Smoke

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Secondhand Smoke (also known as Environmental

Tobacco Smoke, or ETS)

Secondhand smoke is the smoke exhaled by smokers and from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe. A nonsmoker breathing in secondhand smoke is at risk for the same illnesses as smokers.

Secondhand smoke is considered a "Group A" cancer-causing agent. That means federal agencies recommend exposure to secondhand smoke be reduced to the lowest possible levels.

What you can do:

Encourage your worksite to become completely smoke-free. Talk with your supervisor and company leaders, and enlist the support of other employees.
Call, write, or visit your lawmakers and your county and city officials. Urge them to support strong laws to protect all workers from secondhand smoke.
Ask to be seated in the nonsmoking sections of restaurants and public transportation.
When you travel, stay in smoke-free rooms.
If others in your home smoke, help them to stop or at least ask them to smokeoutside.
Ask visitors not to smoke in your home.
Don't allow babysitters or childcare workers to smoke around your children.
Make sure your child's daycare center or preschool does not allow smoking.
Don't take your children to restaurants or other public places that allow smoking.
Work with your local community to educate children and parents about the dangers of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand Smoke and Children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 43% of children from age 2 months to 11 years live in a home with at least one smoker. These children are at risk for many illnesses such as

ear infections
bronchitis and pneumonia
colds asthma

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