ETS aggravates allergy symptoms. It is generally more irritating to the respiratory tract of asthmatics and it can aggravate some asthmatic symptoms such as wheezing. Generally speaking, babies with low birth weight have a smaller chance of survival. Irritant Effects Many of the substances in cigarette smoke are very irritating to the eyes, throat and respiratory mucous membranes. A high proportion of non-smokers report eye irritation, headache, nasal discomfort, cough, sore throat, or sneezing when exposed to cigarette smoke.
Eye irritation seems the main symptom during passive exposure to cigarette smoke.
Sometimes finding answers in scientific studies is not clear cut. When studying ETS, it is often difficult to determine what exact level of smoke a person was exposed to as most studies rely on a person's memory about events that happened a long time ago. In these situations, small increases in risk are hard to detect. While most of the studies have looked at the health effect of active smokers, it has been shown that tobacco smoke can interact with other materials and chemicals in the workplace. In Encyclopaedia of Occupational Health and Safety.