BE Aware and Beware

Short-term consequences to exposure to second-hand smoke.

Toxins in the Air

Every year, approximately 110 non-smokers in B.C. die from diseases brought on by second-hand smoke (sometimes called environmental tobacco smoke or "ETS"). Thousands more become sick.

Second-hand smoke consists of mainstream smoke, the smoke inhaled and exhaled by the smoker, and side stream smoke, the smoke released directly from the end of a burning cigarette.

Smoke does a lot of damage – and not just to smokers. Anyone who’s near a lit cigarette, pipe or cigar is probably breathing second-hand smoke. Two-thirds of the smoke from a burning cigarette is not inhaled by the smoker but enters the surrounding environment. The contaminated air is inhaled by anyone in that area.

Prolonged and repeated exposure to second-hand smoke means that you, your family and friends are more likely to develop second-hand smoke diseases, some of which are fatal:

• Lung cancer
• Heart disease
• Asthma
• Reduced lung function
• Bronchitis
• Middle ear infections
• Pneumonia
• Croup
• Sore throats

Toxic Fumes

• Second-hand smoke is a combination of poisonous gases, liquids and breathable particles that are harmful to your health.
• A non-smoker breathing second-hand smoke can be exposed to 4,000 different chemicals, 50 of which are associated with or known to cause cancer.
• Second-hand smoke has twice as much nicotine and tar as the smoke that smokers inhale. It also has five times the carbon monoxide which decreases the amount of oxygen in your blood.
• Exposure to second-hand smoke for as little as 8 to 20 minutes can cause physical reactions linked to heart and stroke disease. For example:
  - the heart rate increases,
  - the heart’s oxygen supply decreases, and
  - blood vessels constrict which increases blood pressure and makes the heart work harder

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