Secondhand Smoke: Something This Dangerous Shouldn't Be Kept Inside

The debate about the dangers of secondhand smoke is over. There is overwhelming medical and scientific evidence that secondhand smoke causes disease and premature death.

The Facts About Secondhand Smoke

  • Smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes contains 4,000 different chemicals, including several that cause cancer and heart disease.
  • Every year, an estimated 550 nonsmokers in Mississippi die from exposure to secondhand smoke, too.
  • Secondhand smoke is classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. EPA. This means it has been shown to cause cancer in people.
  • There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke is harmful and has immediate effects.
  • Separating smokers from nonsmokers or using air filtration and ventilation equipment does not eliminate the health risks.
  • Infants and young children are more vulnerable to the poisons in secondhand smoke because their bodies are developing rapidly and they breathe at a faster rate than adults.
  • Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy and infancy doubles the risk of death from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
  • Secondhand smoke aggravates asthma attacks. An estimated 68,000 children in Mississippi have asthma.
  • Secondhand smoke increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia.