Risks of Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke is a serious public health crisis in the United States. The American Lung Association believes that every person has the right to breathe air that is not harmful to their health. It is extremely important that people take responsibility for protecting themselves and their families from secondhand smoke. The current Surgeon General’s Report concluded that scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
A Little Hurts a Lot in a Hurry
Let all debate about the dangers of secondhand smoke cease. U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona released his latest “Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke” report this month. Click here to see the full report.
The short version of his conclusions: “Secondhand smoke. It hurts you. It doesn’t take much. It doesn’t take long.”
His other conclusions:
- Millions of Americans are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces;
- Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in people who do not smoke;
- Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma;
- Adult exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer;
- Scientific evidence indicates there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke;
- Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects people. Separating sections, air cleaning systems and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate the risk of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Fact Sheets
