O
ver 80% of Canadians 15 years of age and older are nonsmokers. Yet many Canadians, including children, are exposed to tobacco smoke through second-hand smoke.
In 2006, the U.S Surgeon General issued a groundbreaking statement in the fight against second-hand smoke: There is no safe level of second-hand smoke! Second-hand smoke pollutes the air and is dangerous to the health of smokers and non-smokers alike.
What is second-hand smoke? Tobacco smoke is a mixture of gases, liquids and particles. There are over 4,000 chemicals in second-hand smoke that are produced as tobacco burns. Some of the pollutants in tobacco smoke include carbon monoxide, arsenic, ammonia, butane, lead and benzene. Second-hand smoke is the mixture of smoke from the end of a burning cigarette, called side-stream smoke, and the smoke that is exhaled, called mainstream smoke. Second-hand smoke has higher amounts of tar and nicotine than what is inhaled.
Second-hand smoke causes 1,100 to 7,800 deaths per year in Canada.
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es, second-hand smoke is a serious health risk. There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke poses the greatest risk to people who are exposed to it daily in the home and the workplace. In fact, second-hand smoke has higher amounts of cancer causing and toxic chemicals than the smoke inhaled directly from a cigarette and is especially dangerous to children.
Suffer from more ear infections.
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Are more likely to suffer from allergies.
Second-hand smoke exposure to expectant mothers is also dangerous. Inhaling second-hand smoke while pregnant can affect the development of the baby.
Exposure to second-hand smoke worsens breathing problems such as asthma and decreases lung function. Exposure to second-hand smoke can also cause: •
Emphysema
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Chronic Bronchitis
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Lung cancer
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Heart disease
Second-hand smoke exposure is a major cause of heart disease. In fact, the risk of death from heart disease increases by about 30% for men & women who live with someone who smokes.
Second-hand smoke and children Second-hand smoke is harmful for everyone, but especially for babies and children. Babies and children are especially vulnerable to second-hand smoke because:
Is second-hand smoke a health risk?
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They have a faster breathing rate: they breathe in more air relative to their body weight, which means they absorb more smoke.
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Their immune systems are less developed.
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They are less able to complain about being around smoke.
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They are less able to leave smoky places by themselves.
Children who are exposed to second-hand smoke are at higher risk for many serious health problems. Children exposed to second-hand smoke: •
Face a higher risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
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Face a higher risk of lung illnesses like bronchitis and pneumonia.
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Face a higher risk of developing asthma.
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Suffer from more frequent colds.
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Have decreased lung function.
What about smoking in the car, is that safe?
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o. Exposure to cigarette smoke in the confined space of a car is a serious threat to children’s health. Because the space inside cars is confined, second-hand smoke is more concentrated. The poisons found in smoke can reach very high levels in a short amount of time. Even with the window open, the smoke often gets blown back into the car and can linger for hours. The Lung Association is currently working on a campaign to protect children from smoking in vehicles. British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and PEI have all adopted legislation that that prevent smoking in cars with children, but we need more support! You can offer your support by contacting your local MLA or visiting the Lung Associations’ Clean Air for Kids campaign at www.lung.ca.
What about ventilation or smoking in another room? Is it safe? Ventilation or smoking in another room does not protect you or others from the hazards of second-hand smoke exposure. Many of the harmful chemicals in tobacco smoke are invisible and odourless. Just because you cannot see or smell the smoke, doesn’t mean you are not being exposed. Second-hand smoke can persist in the air for many hours. Smoking in another room is not the answer because smoke disperses throughout the home or office.
Smoke also gets trapped in hair, skin, fabric, carpet, furniture, and toys and builds up over time. This is known as third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke contains the same toxic chemicals as second-hand smoke. There is no medical, scientific or governmental agency in North America, or the world, which has set a safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
How can I protect my children and myself from second-hand smoke? There is only one way to eliminate the danger of second-hand or third-hand smoke: eliminate the source. Make your car and home 100% smoke-free. Make sure there is no smoking anywhere near your children. Avoid second-hand smoke in the home, at work and in public places. Support 100% smoke-free public and work places with no option for designated smoking rooms and no exemptions. While most Canadian workplaces and indoor public places are now smoke-free, continued support is needed for smoke free spaces; including parks & playgrounds and multi-unit dwellings.
What can I do if there’s drifting second-hand smoke in my apartment?
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econd-hand smoke can drift under doors and through open windows, vents and electrical outlets. Drifting tobacco smoke is a problem for many people who live in multi-unit buildings as renters or as owners. Here’s what you can do if second-hand smoke is entering your apartment:
Work out a solution •
Talk to your neighbors. Let them know you’re interested in reaching a workable solution.
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Look at your tenancy agreement. If your building is smoke-free, ask that the policy or bylaw be enforced.
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If the problem continues, write your landlord and ask for help to resolve the issue.
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If you have a chronic disease (asthma, COPD, health disease, etc.) or another condition made worse by second-hand smoke, get a note from your doctor that explains this and show your landlord.
Other things you can do to cut down on drifting tobacco smoke: •
Request that your landlord seal cracks, plug electrical outlets, weather strip doors and windows, and improve ventilation systems. If they won’t do it, you can do it yourself.
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Talk to your landlord about putting into place a smokefree policy or bylaw. Landlords have the right to make all or part of a building smoke-free.
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If you rent, ask to move to a different unit in your building, one that is free from drifting tobacco smoke.
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Move to a smoke-free building. Make sure the tenancy agreement states that the entire building is smoke-free, including the unit, balconies/patios and common areas.
You have a responsibility to act on reasonable tenant complaints and resolve the problem of drifting tobacco smoke. Timely and reasonable repairs will eliminate or reduce the problem. Smoke-free policies or bylaws need to be enforced where they are in place. Convert vacant units to smoke-free units, moving toward a partial or complete smoke-free building, including balconies and patios.
We are here to help For decades, The Lung Association has spoken out about the dangers of tobacco. Encouragingly, smoking is now widely recognized as a serious health risk both for smokers and for children and others exposed to second-hand smoke. We continue to work to prevent lung disease by focusing on youth prevention, helping smokers quit, and advocating for stricter tobacco control legislation.
Second Hand Smoke A serious health risk
For information on our tobacco programs, call us toll-free at:
1-888-566-LUNG (5864)
If the situation doesn’t improve or the landlord won’t help, contact the Public Health Act inspectors in your region or the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service at the Ministry of Service Alberta to discuss your options.
For landlords There are lots of benefits to making your properties smoke-free: •
Lower maintenance costs and fire insurance costs.
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Tenants are protected from second-hand smoke.
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You help meet a community need for smoke-free housing.
1-888-566-5864 www.ab.lung.ca
