Second-Hand Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Abstract

This chapter will address extensively the detrimental effects of secondhand tobacco smoke exposure, beginning with a discussion on the relationship between active and passive smoking. The risk to health of non-smokers who have been exposed to ETS has been well established. Passive smoking may be referred to as involuntary smoking. The consequences of SHS to health will be discussed, including the effects of smoking during pregnancy. The health risk to children and to the general population exposed to SHS will be discussed. Passive smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in infancy in industrialized countries. As passive smoking has considerable detrimental effects on the health of non-smokers, the rights of non-smokers have also been briefly addressed. Keywords Secondhand smoke Á Secondhand smoke-effect Á Smoking and pregnancy Á Smoking and infancy ETS consists of SHS which is 85 % sidestream smoke and 15 % exhaled mainstream smoke. ETS contains more than 4000 chemical and over 50 carcinogens. Passive smoking may be regarded as involuntary smoking. ETS causes cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and various other diseases. Children are especially vulnerable to the expose of ETS and it is the leading cause of preventable death in infancy in developed countries