Second-hand smoke is simply other people's tobacco smoke and is also known as passive smoke. Second-hand smoke consists of side stream smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette and mainstream smoke exhaled by the smoker. Side stream smoke typically makes up nearly 85% of the smoke in a smoky environment. This type of smoke contains a much higher concentration of toxins (e.g. hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, carbon monoxide and acrolein) than mainstream smoke. Tobacco smoke contains over 4000 chemicals, many of which are toxins and at least 50 of which are carcinogens (cancer causing).

Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer and heart disease in adult non-smokers and a variety of conditions including respiratory diseases, cot death and middle ear disease (glue ear) in children.

It increases the risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.

The British Medical Association estimates
that second-hand smoke is responsible for at least 1000 deaths in the UK each year.

Breathing in tobacco smoke, places the body under pressure. It can damage almost every organ in the human body and cause coughing,headaches eye and throat irritation, breathing problems, asthma attacks and irregular heart beat.

Breathing in tobacco smoke makes blood platelets more sticky within 30 minutes! This increases a person's risk of a blood clot forming in a narrowed artery, which in turn could block blood flow. If the blocked artery is a coronary artery on the surface of the heart, then that could trigger: heart attach, angina pain or even heart failure.

Pregnant women exposed to second-hand smoke can also pass on the harmful chemicals to
their babies.

Almost half of the children in the UK live in a home where someone smokes. Children are particularly affected by the poisons in tobacco smoke because their bodies are still developing. Their bronchial tubes and lungs are smaller and immune systems less developed, making them more vulnerable to infection. Also they breathe faster than adults, taking in proportionally more chemicals than an adult per kg body weight.

If you smoke, or know someone else who does, protect children from the harm caused by tobacco smoke by following these useful tips:

Smoke outside whenever possible.

Keep children's playing and eating areas smoke- free.

NEVER smoke in a child's bedroom.

Ask visitors to follow these rules.

Keep any confined spaces, such as a car, smoke-free.

For more information see Children and Babies.

Never allow anyone to smoke in the car.

Help protect children by keeping their playing, sleeping and eating areas totally smoke-free.

Smoke outside whenever possible.