What is secondhand smoke?

Secondhand smoke is exhaled smoke leaving a burning tobacco product such as a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

Exposure to secondhand smoke can happen indoors or outdoors, and can linger for several hours. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke are exposed to the very same hazardous chemicals as smokers, and can be in danger even if exposure is limited to short periods of time. This is especially true in confined spaces such as homes, vehicles, and congested public spaces.

Just like smokers, non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke can be at higher risk for conditions like lung cancer, heart disease, premature death, and breathing problems such as asthma and emphysema or COPD.

Infants and children exposed to secondhand smoke

have increased risk of low birth weight, lung infection, pneumonia, asthma attacks, bronchitis, Sudden Death Syndrome (SIDS), and ear infection.

Pets are affected by secondhand smoke too.

Pets have an increased risk of respiratory infection, lung inflammation, asthma, and nasal and lung cancers.

What about thirdhand smoke?

Thirdhand smoke is the lingering nicotine and chemicals that seeps in to clothing and surfaces like walls, carpets, curtains, bedding, and vehicles.

What we know: