Passive smoking
smoke; smoking; air; breathe; lungs; passive; passive smoking; pregnancy; tobacco; cigarette; teeth; tooth; decay; pregnancy; car; driving ;
Contents
Whenever people smoke, all the others around them are smoking too because they breathe in the same harmful substances as the person who is smoking. When children or adults breathe in other people's smoke (second hand smoke), it is commonly known as passive smoking.
When someone smokes, tiny invisible particles mix with the surrounding air. These particles are breathed in by anyone near the smoker and get right down into their lungs. This can be harmful to health, especially in children.
It's easy to protect your children from passive smoking - make your home and car smoke-free. It is now illegal in South Australia to smoke in a car while a child is also in the car.
Dangerous substances in cigarette smoke
Scientific studies have shown that passive smoke contains many dangerous chemicals. There can be around 4000 different chemicals in tobacco smoke that may be breathed in by someone who is near a smoker. They also stick to clothes, furniture, walls and inside the car. Some of these chemicals are:
 |
- Tar - made up of many chemicals including cancer causing substances.
- Carbon monoxide - that lowers the amount of oxygen your blood can carry.
- Poisons - including arsenic, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide.
|
Graphic courtesy of Smoke Free Homes and Cars Project
Tobacco Control Unit, SA Department of Health |
What passive smoking does
As well as irritating the eyes and airways, passive smoking increases the risk of illnesses in children such as:
- pneumonia
- bronchitis
- coughing and wheezing
- middle ear infections
- more serious asthma attacks (and it increases the number of children with asthma).
Smoking during pregnancy and after the birth of a baby by either parent increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
According to the World Health Organisation:
- Children's passive smoking increases their risk of developing heart disease and cancer as an adult.
- In some children, it may also be a contributing factor in learning and language difficulties, and behavioural problems.
- It has been shown that young children exposed to passive smoking have more dental decay than other children.
- Recent research has also shown that passive smokers are more likely to develop diabetes than people who are not exposed to smoking.
 |
Childhood illnesses are distressing for the child, and worrying and expensive for parents. To minimise the risk of illnesses in children, protect them from passive smoking. |
Graphic courtesy of Smoke Free Homes and Cars Project
Tobacco Control Unit, SA Department of Health |
Smoking in pregnancy
- The baby is likely to be smaller at birth.
- The mother is more likely to have a miscarriage.
- There may be more chance of the baby being stillborn.
- Women whose partners smoke have a higher risk of the baby not growing well in the womb.
- Smoking during pregnancy and after the birth of a baby by either parent increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
Researchers have found another problem for children whose mothers smoke during pregnancy. A study in Norway showed that these children were more likely to have rule-breaking and aggressive behaviour as adolescents and be more likely to have been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). They were also more likely to have emotional and social problems.
Apart from the dangers of passive smoking there are other risks to children who are around people who smoke.
- Poisoning: cigarettes and cigarette ash are poisonous and eating even one butt can make a young child sick. Keep cigarettes and ashtrays away from children.
- Burns: cigarettes can seriously burn children.
- Matches and lighters: these can cause burns and can (and do) also start house fires and other fires. Keep them away from children.
- Motor vehicle accidents: smoking while driving increases the likelihood of having an accident.
What you can do
It 's easy to protect your children from passive smoking...
- make your home and car smoke-free. In South Australia it is now illegal to smoke in a car if children are also in the car.
 |
 |
Graphic courtesy of Smoke Free Homes and Cars Project
Tobacco Control Unit, SA Department of Health |
If you are a smoker, you could also decide to...
- only ever smoke outside
- never smoke around children.
If this is not possible, then...
- never smoke in the car when children are with you. From June 1 2007, it became illegal in South Australia to smoke in a car with children present.
- limit your smoking at home to one room, where your children don't go
- if you smoke outside when they are around, avoid smoke drifting in their direction.
Every step you take to protect children from passive smoke will help improve their health.
When you have visitors?
When you have decided that your family are going to go smoke-free, you will need to let your visitors know too. Sometimes it can be difficult to ask a guest not to smoke. The easiest way to make your visitors aware is to put up stickers in your home and car - even amusing ones can make your point. Pointing out the stickers gives you a chance to let people know that things have changed. (Or if you are non-smokers that you do not want people to smoke in your house or car.)
You might want to put stickers...
- next to the main entrance to the house
- on the dashboard of the car
- anywhere inside where visitors might usually smoke.
What if visitors still wish to smoke?
Sometimes it might be hard for people close to you to change their smoking habits when they visit. This might include family members, close friends or neighbours. They might feel that the occasional cigarette does little harm and so it's "OK" to smoke in your home or car. But every cigarette causes damage. No one should smoke around others, especially around children. Tell them why you have gone smoke-free and show them this information. It may help them understand your decision.
There is a topic 'Cigarettes and smoking' on the Young Adult Health section of this site, and 'Giving up smoking' on the Teen Health section which have information about stopping smoking, and about the help that you can get. See the 'Related topics' section at the start of this topic.
- If you smoke around your kids they smoke too.
- Make your home and your car smoke free.
- If you decide that now would be a good time to quit smoking, support is available.
Resources
South Australia
Australia
World Health Organisation
References
American Academy of Pediatrics - multiple papers on passive smoking
http://www.aap.org
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 'The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General' June 2006 http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/2006/index.htm
Marit S Indredavik, Ann-Mari Brubakk, Pål Romundstad, Torstein Vik ‘Prenatal smoking exposure and psychiatric symptoms in adolescence’ Acta Paediatrica 96 (3), 377–382 March 2007
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2006.00148.x
National Tobacco Campaign (Australia) Quitnow website
http://www.quitnow.info.au
Oxygen - information for young people about smoking
http://www.oxygen.org.au
World Health Organisation Tobacco Free Initiative
http://www.who.int/tobacco/en/
Aligne et al. 'Association of Pediatric Dental Caries with Passive Smoking'. Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 2003, 289: 1258-1264.
The information on this site should not be used as an alternative to professional care. If you have a particular problem, see a doctor, or ring the Parent Helpline on 1300 364 100 (local call cost from anywhere in South Australia).
This topic may use 'he' and 'she' in turn - please change to suit your
child's sex.