How Secondhand Smoke Hurts Children

How Secondhand Smoke Hurts Children Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases Print How Secondhand Smoke Hurts Children By Terry Martin facebook twitter Terry Martin quit smoking after 26 years and is now an advocate for those seeking freedom from nicotine addiction. Learn about our editorial policy Terry Martin Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Sanja Jelic, MD on May 08, 2016 Sanja Jelic, MD, is board-certified in sleep medicine, critical care medicine, pulmonary disease, and internal medicine.   Learn about our Medical Review Board Sanja Jelic, MD Updated on June 29, 2018 CMSP / Custom Medical Stock Photo / Getty Images More in Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, or ETS, is a combination of exhaled cigarette smoke (mainstream smoke) and smoke that comes from the end of a smoldering cigarette (sidestream smoke). It is a nasty mixture of more than 7,000 chemicals, 250 of which have been identified as poisonous, and upwards of 70 that are carcinogenic. According to the 2006 report of the Surgeon General, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Children face a greater risk than adults of the negative effects of secondhand smoke. When the air is tainted with cigarette smoke, young, developing lungs receive a higher concentration of inhaled toxins than do older lungs because a childs breathing rate is faster than that of adults. Adults breathe in and out approximately 14 to 18 times a minute, and newborns can breathe as many as 60 times a minute. Up until a child is about 5 years old, the respiratory rate is quite fast. Young children have little control over their surroundings. Babies cant move to another room because the air is smoky. They depend on the adults in their lives to make sure their environment is safe. Scientists have uncovered numerous risks associated with secondhand smoke for young children and the research continues. To date, there are plenty of sobering facts about how this toxic air damages the health of our kids. How Secondhand Smoke Affects Babies in the Womb Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy often weigh less at birth than those born to non-smoking mothers. Low birth weight is a leading cause of infant death.Babies whose mothers smoke during pregnancy are at increased risk for developmental issues, such as learning disabilities and cerebral palsy. How Secondhand Smoke Can Impact Childrens Health Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke after birth have twice the risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) as babies who arent exposed. Babies whose mothers smoked before and after birth carry three to four times the risk of SIDS.Among children under 18 months of age in the United States, secondhand smoke is associated with 150,000 to 300,000 cases of lower respiratory tract infections, like  bronchitis  or  pneumonia  each year.The EPA estimates that between 200,000 and 1,000,000 kids with asthma have their condition worsened by secondhand smoke. Passive smoking may also be responsible for thousands of new cases of asthma every year.Children in smoking households experience more middle ear infections. Inhaled cigarette smoke irritates the eustachian tube, and the subsequent swelling leads to infections, which are the most common cause of hearing loss in children.The lungs of children who regularly breathe in secondhand smoke develop more slowly.Research has uncovered evidence that suggests secondhand smoke may be related to childhood leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors. However, to date, that evidence is insufficient to link these childhood cancers with secondhand smoke definitively. Current Facts About Childrens Exposure to Secondhand Smoke? On average, children have more exposure to secondhand smoke than non-smoking adults.Cotinine levels in children between 3 and 11 years old are more than double that of non-smoking adults.Kids who live in nonsmoking homes that are in multi-family dwellings (apartments, condos) have approximately 45% higher cotinine levels than children who live in nonsmoking single-family homes.An alarming 90% of the exposure kids get to secondhand smoke comes from their parents.Over half of American children breathe in secondhand smoke in cars, homes and public places where smoking is allowed. The Threat of Third-Hand Smoke With increasing awareness, new risks sometimes emerge.  Third-hand smoke is an example.  Toxic particulate matter in cigarette smoke settles on surfaces and stays put, along with the residue from gases in cigarette smoke. This hazard isnt healthy for anyone but is a particular concern for small children who crawl on hands and knees and play with toys with fingers than then go into their mouths.   How to Minimize the Risks Dont smoke inside your house and dont let anyone else, either.  Opening windows or using air filters is not enough to protect people from secondhand smoke in an enclosed space. Dont smoke in your car.  Even if your kids arent with you, remember that toxins settle on surfaces and theyll be exposed to them. Avoid any indoor spaces (restaurants, sporting events, friends houses where smoking occurs, etc) where your kids will be exposed to secondhand smoke. Give some distance to smokers in outdoor spaces.  Yes, outdoor air dilutes cigarette smoke, but if the wind is blowing in your direction, you and your children could still breathe in a lung full of toxic air. In Summary With upwards of 70 carcinogenic and 250 poisonous known chemical components, it is clear that air laden with secondhand smoke is toxic and unsafe for anyone, especially our kids. It is up to us to provide them with healthy air to breathe. If you smoke, please make sure that you do all that you can to protect others from the secondhand smoke you create. Better yet, use the resources below to help you get started with smoking cessation. Your Quit Smoking ToolboxAfter the Last CigaretteSmoking Cessation Support Forum It is never too late to stop smoking, and the work it takes to achieve is minor when compared to the benefits youll enjoy once you do.