Passive smoking is the inhalation of tobacco smoke exhaled by a smoker, arising directly from the burning tobacco product (e.g. a cigarette, cigar, cigarillos, pipes, etc.).
The tobacco smoke exhaled by smokers is a direct exposure of a non-smoker who is not dependent on any tobacco product to the effects of substances in tobacco smoke.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as many as 80% of smokers do so in the immediate vicinity of non-smokers, and 25% of Poles are directly exposed to passive smokers in their households.
Why is second-hand smoke harmful?
The smoke and vapors generated during the smoking of tobacco products are very toxic to the healthy cells of the body, not only of smokers, but also of non-smokers who are surrounded by smokers.
Smoke from burning tobacco contains about 4000 irritating and poisonous substances, of which nearly 40 are responsible for the formation of neoplastic changes.
A number of substances generated during the combustion of tobacco products undergo chemical changes, and the smoke inhaled by a passive smoker has as much as 35 times more carbon dioxide and 4 times more nicotine than the smoke inhaled by a smoker directly from a burning cigarette.
How can I avoid being a passive smoker?
- it is a good idea to allocate separate smoking areas with good air ventilation,
- a good idea is all kinds of restrictions on smoking tobacco products in public places or in workplaces,
- all rooms where tobacco products are smoked should be well ventilated,
- try to react if you have an influence on the presence of smokers in your environment (especially if the child is exposed to inhaling tobacco smoke),
- remember about your relatives and protect them from tobacco smoke - do not smoke in the apartment or in the car.