Every time someone smokes, poisons are released into the air, which means that not only is the smoker inhaling them but so is everyone else around them. Many studies now show that this secondhand smoke can have harmful effects on nonsmokers and even cause them to develop diseases such as lung cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, inhaling secondhand smoke is the third leading preventable cause of disease and death , behind only active smoking and alcohol.
Secondhand smoke causes more cancer deaths than all other regulated carcinogens combined.
About 800 Oregonians die each year from exposure to others tobacco smoke. Children , of a parent who smokes just half a pack of cigarettes a day, are almost twice as likely to be hospitalized for lung problems. The Surgeon General, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, National Academy of Sciences, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and National Toxicology Program all conclude that secondhand smoke is a significant health risk . Public awareness that secondhand smoke is harmful to health is high. Worsens the condition of Cystic Fibrosis Difficulty breathing Carcinogenic Effects Cervical cancer Secondhand Smoke has also been implicated in many other cancers and disorders, but more extensive research is needed to determine causality.