Smokers take a health risk every time they choose to light up. That is their decision and their choice. Many Australians choose not to smoke. This means they don’t want to inhale tobacco smoke. Yet, when they share their environment with a smoker, they lose this right and their freedom of choice. Second-hand smoke has negative affects for everyone; adults, children and especially for mother and baby during pregnancy.

An involuntary smoker’s overall risk of cancer increases according to their level of exposure to tobacco smoke. The more time you spend in the close company of smokers, the more you are exposed to tobacco smoke and the more your risk of disease increases. Scientific evidence proves that there is no safe level of tobacco smoke exposure.

Research indicates that exposure to second-hand smoke causes many diseases and conditions in adults:

• Lung cancer
• Heart disease

There is also evidence to suggest that exposure to second-hand smoke may cause:

• Breast cancer
• Nasal sinus cancer
• Respiratory symptoms
• Stroke
• Worsening of asthma

Children

Babies and children are particularly susceptible to the health effects of passive smoking, as their lungs and immune systems are still developing. Children of smokers inhale approximately the same amount of nicotine as they would if they were smoking 60 to 150 cigarettes a year. Exposure to tobacco smoke means that children are inhaling many of the same toxic chemicals as smokers.

In children, exposure to tobacco smoke causes:

• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) or cot death.
• Bronchitis, pneumonia and other lung and airway infections.
• Worsening symptoms of asthma.
• Middle ear disease (glue ear).
• Respiratory symptoms such as coughing and wheezing.

Exposing children to tobacco smoke has been linked to:

• Brain cancer and lymphomas.
• Onset of asthma and worsening of asthma.
• Reduced lung function.

Pregnancy

Smoking around a non-smoking pregnant woman can potentially affect her unborn child.

Carbon monoxide, nicotine and other chemicals in the tobacco smoke are absorbed into the mother’s bloodstream and passed on to the foetus. This results in decreased nourishment for the foetus which places unnecessary stress on its heart and reduces its oxygen supply. As a result, the baby is more likely to have a lower birth weight and is at increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or cot death.

The children of parents who smoke also have higher rates of lower respiratory illnesses and middle ear infections during their first 18 months of life. Children in this age group that are exposed to second-hand smoke, also experience higher hospital admission rates. For more information please download our Baby and You resource.

More information

For more information contact the Cancer Council Helpline on 13 11 20 or Quitline 13 QUIT (13 7848) or visit www.quitnow.info.au