SECONDHAND SMOKE

Just because you aren’t smoking a cigarette, does not mean your liver is immune to its damaging chemicals. Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke coming from both the smoker and the cigarette:

· Mainstream smoke – the smoke inhaled and exhaled by the smoker.

· Sidestream smoke – the smoke released directly from the end of a burning cigarette.

When a cigarette is smoked, about half of the smoke is inhaled and exhaled by the smoker and the other half floats around in the air. Environmental tobacco smoke plays a part in more health problems than most people realize.

Some facts about secondhand smoke:

1. The EPA estimates that the risk of developing cancer from exposure to second-hand smoke is about 57 times greater than the total risk posed by all outdoor air contaminants regulated under U.S. environmental law.

2. Secondhand smoke is a major source of indoor air pollution, and the greatest source of air particle pollution.

3. Exposure to secondhand smoke for or as little as 8 minutes causes physical reactions linked to cardiovascular disease.

4. Although only 3 in 10 people report being exposed to secondhand smoke, 9 in 10 people have detectable levels of secondhand smoke’s toxic chemicals in their bodies.