What is Secondhand Smoke?

Secondhand smoke is also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) or passive smoke. It is a mixture of 2 forms of smoke that come from burning tobacco: sidestream smoke (smoke that comes from the end of a lighted cigarette, pipe, or cigar) and mainstream smoke (smoke that is exhaled by a smoker). Even though we think of these as the same, they aren't. The sidestream smoke has higher concentrations of cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) than the mainstream smoke. And, it contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body's cells more easily. Secondhand smoke significantly increases a person's risk for:

respiratory infections (like bronchitis and pneumonia)

asthma (secondhand smoke is a risk factor for the development of asthma and can trigger attacks in those who already have it)

coughing, sore throats, sniffling, and sneezing

cancer

heart disease

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