Second hand smoke, also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a mix of the smoke given off from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. In fact, when a cigarette sits in the ashtray, it burns very slowly. This slowly burning cigarette allows more of the harmful chemicals in the tobacco to be released into the air. 

There is no “safe” level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Research has found that secondhand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. More than 50 of these chemicals are known human carcinogens, meaning they cause cancer in humans. 

When you?	...you breathe in as much as...
Sit in a car with a smoker for one hour, with the windows rolled up	4 cigarettes
Sit in a smoky bar for two hours	4 cigarettes
Sit in a restaurant's nonsmoking section for two hours	1.5 cigarettes
Sit in a smoke friendly office for eight hours	6 cigarettes
Stay inside the home of a pack-a-day smoker for 24 hours	3 cigarettes

Children are especially harmed by second hand smoke. Children whose parents smoke often have the following problems:

• Have asthma more often, with more frequent and severe attacks
• Cough and wheeze more
• Have more ear infections and colds
• Go to the hospital more often for bronchitis and pneumonia
• Have decreased lung function
• SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) has also been linked to parents' smoking

To keep your children away from tobacco smoke:

• If you smoke, consider quitting even before you might become pregnant or have a child.
• If you are pregnant, do not smoke or expose yourself to secondhand smoke.
• Do not smoke anywhere near your child, including a different room within the same home.
• Be aware of other caregivers who might smoke (grandparents, babysitters, etc.) and ask that they not smoke around your child.

Avoid secondhand smoke whenever possible.

• Dine at completely smoke free restaurants. 
• Ask smokers to step outside your home to smoke. 
• Take the Smoke-free Home Pledge by calling the toll-free Hotline at 1-866-SMOKE-FREE - 1-866-766-5337

For More Information

Environmental Protection Agency & Second Hand Smoke

Related Programs and Services

Ohio Quit Line
1-800-QUIT-NOW