Search

Secondhand Smoke

Smoking harms you and those around you¹

Secondhand smoke refers to the smoke coming from the burning end of a cigarette, as well as the smoke exhaled by a smoker. Non-smokers can suffer health problems as a result of breathing secondhand smoke.

Each year in the United States, secondhand smoke causes about 3,400 lung cancer deaths and more than 22,000 heart disease deaths.

More information on the health effects of secondhand smoke, the Smoking in Public Places Law and smoke-free housing is available at www.SmokeFreeWashington.com.

Secondhand smoke puts children and babies at risk¹

• Almost 3 million children in the United States under the age of 6 years old breathe secondhand smoke at home at least four days per week.
• Children exposed to secondhand smoke have more ear infections and more severe breathing problems like asthma and bronchitis.
• Nationwide, children exposed to secondhand smoke in the home miss more days of school every year than those not exposed.
• Secondhand smoke is a known cause of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Secondhand smoke causes low birth weight and lung problems in infants.

Secondhand smoke harms spouses¹

• Secondhand smoke is hazardous to everyone’s health, including smokers, nonsmokers and especially women and babies.
• Nonsmoking women who live with a spouse who smokes have a 20 percent greater risk of developing lung cancer.

Even pets are harmed by secondhand smoke¹

• Secondhand smoke is linked to negative health effects on household pets.
• Cats that live with people who smoke are more than twice as likely as other cats to develop feline lymphoma.

¹Additional information and fact citations available at www.SmokeFreeWashington.com.