Passive
smoking: Passive smoking is second hand smoking. It is a
mix of smoke from a lit cigarette, cigar and pipelines into the air by the
person smoking. It means breathing in
other people's tobacco smoke. This mainly happens to nonsmokers who are present
in the company of smokers. They are not actively smoking but breathing the
smoke surrounding air.
Passive Smoking and Cancer Facts
Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 harmful
chemicals among them over 50 chemicals of which are known to cause cancer.
Nonsmokers who are staying with smokers at home or work increase their risk of
lung cancer by 30%. Every year 3400 nonsmokers die from lung cancer. Toxic
chemicals in passive smoke damage cells, which can put them at risk for becoming
cancerous now, or in the future. Passive smoke depresses the function of some
antioxidants that help repair cell damage.
Passive Smoking and Heart Facts
Passive smoking contributes to coronary heart
disease. Approximately 46,000 American nonsmokers who are suffering heart
disease deaths from passive smoking effect. Nonsmokers who breathe in passive
smoke regularly increase their risk of heart disease by 25%.
