Secondhand Smoke A Health Hazard to Children

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Secondhand Smoke
A Health Hazard to Children
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Childrens Exposure to Secondhand Smoke

• Millions of children six years old and younger
  are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke in the
  home.

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What is Secondhand Smoke?

• Also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS),
  passive smoking, or side-stream smoke
• Smoke breathed out by a smoker
• Smoke from the burning end of cigarettes, cigars,
  pipes
• Composed of nearly 4,000 different chemicals and
  chemical compounds of which, 40 are cancer
  causing
• Contains benzene, nickel, carbon monoxide,
  ammonia, and cyanide

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All ETS Exposure Children Aged 6 and Younger
Source CDC/EPA National Survey on Environmental
Management of Asthma and Children's Exposure to
Secondhand Smoke, 2003.
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Health Risks

• Low birth weight
• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• Coughing wheezing
• More inner ear infections up to 2,000,000 inner
  ear infections each year

Sources USEPA. Respiratory Health Effects of
Passive Smoking Lung Cancer and Other
Disorders, 1992. California EPA. Health Effects
of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, 1997.
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Health Risks

• Respiratory infections
• More pneumonia up to 190,000 cases of pneumonia
  in children under five
• More bronchitis up to 436,000 episodes of
  bronchitis in children under five
• Sore throats and colds

Sources USEPA. Respiratory Health Effects of
Passive Smoking Lung Cancer and Other
Disorders, 1992. California EPA. Health Effects
of Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke, 1997.
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Asthma

• Asthma is a disease that causes the lungs to
  tighten and swell
• Asthma is incurable, yet controllable
• Secondhand smoke is the most universal trigger of
  asthma episodes, especially in children

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Indoor Asthma Triggers

• Secondhand smoke
• Dust mites
• Pets
• Cockroaches other pests
• Mold
• Nitrogen dioxide

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Addressing Asthma

• Talk to a Doctor
• Make a Plan
• Asthma-proof your Home

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How to Protect Children

• Pledge not to smoke in your home or car. Call
  1-866-SMOKE-FREE or visit www.epa.gov/smokefree/pl
  edge
• Dont allow others to smoke in your home or car
• Choose a smoke-free childcare provider
• Until you can quit, smoke outside

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How to Promote Smoke-free Homes

• Work with childcare centers, WIC offices, health
  clinics, and other organizations
• Hand out brochures and other Smoke-free Homes
  materials at community events
• Think of ways to include the Smoke-free Homes
  message at parents meetings, churches, and kids
  clubs

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How to Promote Smoke-free Homes

• Educate parents, caregivers, and community
  leaders
• Collect pledges
• 3. Publicize your smoke-free home messages

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How to Learn More

• Order EPAs Materials. Call the Indoor Air
  Quality Information Clearinghouse at
  1-800-438-4318
• Visit EPAs Smoke-free Homes Web site
  www.epa.gov/smokefree