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Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke. This is a combination of two types of smoke. The first form of smoke is called sidestream smoke, which comes from the end of pipes, cigarettes, or cigars. The other form is mainstream smoke, which is the smoke that is exhaled from the actual smoker. The sidestream smoke is more dangerous than mainstream smoke because it contains a higher concentration of cancer causing agents. This also contains smaller particles that can enter the body more easily than mainstream smoke (Secondhand smoke, 2011). When a non-smoker is around someone else that is smoking this is called involuntary or passive smoking.

In children, secondhand smoke can cause asthma. This can occur in children that have never experience any asthma symptoms before exposure to secondhand smoke. The smoke can trigger the child to have asthma attack and make the symptoms more severe (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke). Children exposed to secondhand smoke also have a greater risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In June of 2006 the U.S. Surgeon General released a major report that shows the casual relationship between SIDS and secondhand smoke (Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke). This also showed that the home is the main location where children are exposed to the most significant secondhand smoke.

Adults are also adversely affected by secondhand smoke. Other then lung cancer, secondhand smoke can lead to premature deaths in the adult population. The smoke irritates the airways which effects a person’s heart and blood vessels. Putting such a damper on the cardiovascular system can lead to heart disease or even heart attacks. A person that is exposed to secondhand smoke at work or home increases their risk of heart disease by twenty-five to thirty percent. Within the United States, ETS causes around 46,000 heart disease deaths annually (Smoking & tobacco use). Chemicals that are found in sidestream smoke are able to enter a women’s breast tissue and enter the milk while pregnant.

Not only are children and adults affected by secondhand smoke, but so are animals that are around tobacco smoke. In a study by the Tufts College of Veterinary Medicine found that the rate of oral cancer within cats are much higher if they live in a home of a smoker. The carcinogen elements from secondhand smoke stay on the fur of cats and because of hygiene habits of cats they lick these elements off of their fur coats. Cats are also twice likely to develop cancer within their lymph nodes. Another animal affected by secondhand smoke is dogs. Dogs are likely to develop cancers in their nose or sinus areas. Dogs will longer noses are more susceptible because of the increase in surface area they are able to pick up more carcinogen elements from secondhand smoke (Thompson, 2007).

References

Farrelly, M., Evans, W., & Sfekas, A. (1999, March 25). The impact of workplace smoking bans: results from a national survey. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1763942/pdf/v008p00272.pdf Health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/healtheffects.html Secondhand smoke. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke Secondhand smoke and cancer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Tobacco/ETS Smoking & tobacco use. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm Thompson, A, (2007, August 31). Secondhand smoke causes cancer in pets. Retrieved from http://www.livescience.com/7378-secondhand-smoke-cancer-pets.html