Are you a passive smoker? You're at higher risk of cancer, heart and lung disease

Written By: Poorva Chavan | Published : November 17, 2014 11:21 AM IST

In a first of its kind study which appeared in the journal Cancer, Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, exposure levels of toxins and carcinogens were measured in second hand smokers.

Why is second hand smoke dangerous for you?

Sitting in cars with smokers, non smokers are exposed to a host of dangerous compounds associated with diseases such as cancer, heart and lung disease the study found out. (Read: Your smoking could give your loved ones a heart attack)

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How was the study conducted?

The study was conducted on 14 non smokers who were made to sit for an hour in the passenger seat of a parked sport utility vehicle behind a smoker in the driver's seat. Findings showed elevated levels of butadiene, acrylonitrile, benzene, methylating agents and ethylene oxide (carcinogens and other toxins) in the urine of the non-smokers.

This group of toxic chemicals is thought to be the most important among the thousands in tobacco smoke that cause smoking-related disease , said senior investigator Neal Benowitz, professor at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in the US.

Does passive smoking worsen your pre-existing illness?

The study concludes by saying people already suffering from pre-existing health conditions such as asthma or heart disease should be protected from second hand smoke exposures. (Read: How smoking can kill your child)

According to WHO, passive smoking causes 600,000 deaths every year.Here are five facts you should know about passive smoking:

Second-hand smoke is the smoke that fills restaurants, offices or other enclosed spaces when people burn tobacco products such as cigarettes, bidis and water pipes. Everyone is exposed to its harmful effects.
Guidelines to Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control state that there is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke . Creating 100% smoke-free environments is the only way to protect people from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke.
Second-hand smoke causes 600,000 premature deaths per year. There are more than 4000 chemicals in tobacco smoke, of which at least 250 are known to be harmful and more than 50 are known to cause cancer.
In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight.
Separate or ventilated smoking areas do not protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke can spread from a smoking area to a non-smoking area, even if the doors between the two areas are closed and even if ventilation is provided. Only 100% smoke-free environments provide effective protection. For more such facts. (Read: Passive smoking makes children physically aggressive and antisocial!)

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