Passive smoking is basically breathing-in other people’s smoke.
It is also called involuntary smoking or second-hand smoking. The non-smoker breathes in second-hand (or environmental tobacco smoke) which includes sidestream smoke (i.e the one corner burning end of the cigarette) and mainstream smoke (i.e smoke exhaled by the smoker). Second hand smoke is the main cause of indoor air pollution and people are usually exposed at home, in workplace and public places such as restaurants and bars.
The immediate health effects of second-hand smoke include:
SECOND-HAND SMOKE IS ESPECIALLY HARMFUL TO CHILDREN
Children who breathe second-hand smoke are more likely to get colds, allergies, middle ear infections, and “glue ear”, which is the most common cause of deafness in children.
Exposure to second-hand smoke and smoking while pregnant are both linked to miscarriage, low birth weight and stillborn births. There is also evidence that postnatal exposure of infants to second-hand smoke contributes to the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
What can be done about second-hand smoke?
OTHER TIPS
THE CAPE TOWN NO-TOBACCO FORUM TASK GROUP consists of
Department of Health (Western Cape) | 021 483 2677 |
Cancer Assocociation | 021 689 5347 |
Heart Foundation | 021 447 4222 |
City Health Smoke Complaints Line | 021 400 4291 |
City Health Directorate | 021 400 4290 |
Smokenders | 021 788 9120 |
Health Promotion | 021 918 1708 (Editor) |
DEPARTMENTE VAN GESONDHEID DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ISEBE LEZEMPILO |