Passive Smoker, are You One of Them?

Passive smoker (also known as secondhand smoker, involuntary smoker) is somebody when his/her is inhaled smoke by smoking person (primary smoker). Tests on tobacco smoke found that side-stream smoke has more tar and other cancer causing chemicals than mainstream smoke. Second-hand smoke contaminants that lurk in household dust and on furniture can expose others to levels that are equivalent to several hours of active smoking. Current scientific evidence shows that exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke causes more death, disease and disability.

Scientific research was proved that secondhand smoke causes the same problems as direct smoking, including heart disease, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and lung ailments such as COPD, bronchitis and asthma. Analysis shown that passive smoker have 20-30% greater risk of lung cancer than primary smoker, and those exposed to cigarette smoke in the workplace have an increased risk of 16-19%.

The long term exposure to second hand smoke actually cause more wide negative effect that cannot be neglected. Some of these effects include lung cancer where it has consistently shown a significant increase in relative risk among those exposed to passive smoke. Also breast cancer that occurs when cells are dividing they are more susceptible to carcinogens. Breast cells divide during pre-adolescence, adolescence and the first three months of pregnancy. One study found that girls and women exposed to tobacco smoke at these periods have a significantly greater risk of developing breast cancer than non-exposed women. Secondhand smoke is also associated with nasal sinus cancer. There is also evidence suggesting that exposure to secondhand smoke may be associated with cervical cancer.

The children are the most highly effected by the secondhand smoke that producing by their parents. Passive smoking increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia and bronchiolitis in children. The parents who step outside for a smoke are still harming their children to the secondhand smoke. These children had eight times more nicotine in their bodies than those whose parents didn’t smoke. Passive smoking is also associated with middle ear infection in children as well as possible cardiovascular impairment and behavioural problems.

Passive smoking could have a direct and immediate impact on quality of life, by causing eye irritation, headache, cough, sore throat, dizziness and nausea. Long-term exposure has been linked to asthma, heart disease, lung cancer, infertility, impotence and tooth decay. A closer look reveals interesting facts.

The action that government can take is restricted or banned smoking in public places. As in UK, smoking is restricted or banned on most forms of public transport. Responsibility for enforcing the policies rests with the individual transport companies. Licensed taxi drivers are not allowed to refuse a smoking passenger although they may request passengers not to smoke. Following a public consultation, the Government said that the case was not sufficiently strong to change the law and that the voluntary approach whereby taxi drivers can request passengers not to smoke should continue. However, smoking will be banned in taxis and shared commercial vehicles once the Health Act comes into force.

Many other public places such as cinemas, shopping centres, banks, etc. also ban smoking, while in places where people may spend a long period of time such as airports and places of entertainment, separate smoking and non-smoking areas are normally provided.