The effects of secondhand smoke are just as damaging as the effects of smoking. People who are exposed to secondhand smoke suffer the same health effects from secondhand smoke as smokers including death and disease. The worst effect of passive smoking is death. Almost 3000 people per year die from diseases caused by secondhand smoke including cancer. Almost 37,000 non smokers develop heart disease or other heart related problems as an effect of being exposed to secondhand smoke. As little as thirty minutes of exposure to secondhand smoke can cause damage to the heart and respiratory systems of people exposed to it. Secondhand smoke contains twice the amount of nicotine and tar that are inhaled from smoking a regular cigarette. So really, people exposed to secondhand smoke are incurring more damage to their bodies than the cigarette smoker is. This is why many places are starting to ban smoking in public to reduce the risk of the general public and of bar and restaurant employees to the effects of secondhand smoke.

Who is at risk from the effects of secondhand cigarette smoke?

Anyone who spends a lot of time around someone who smokes is at risk to suffer the side effects of secondhand smoke. People who work in restaurants or bars who are routinely exposed to secondhand smoke have a 25%-75% greater chance of developing lung cancer than people who aren’t exposed to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Second hand smoke effects children too. Parents who smoke around their children put their children at risk of lowered lung capacity, asthma, and bronchitis. In Illinois there is a law being considered that would make it a crime for people to smoke in a car where children are present to protect the children from the side effects of second hand smoking. Secondhand smoke effects pets as well. People who have pets should never smoke around their pets. Think of it this way, if smoking is bad for you, and bad for anyone around you, of course it’s going to have some harmful effects on your pets. Pets can get cancer and develop heart disease and respiratory problems just like humans can. The effects of secondhand smoke on children can be particularly damaging since children who have parents who smoke are more likely to smoke themselves. Being exposed to the effects of secondhand smoke in childhood and then becoming a smoker can cause serious health risks.