The Effects of Secondhand Smoke |eMedEvents

 While the actual smoker has the small benefit of inhaling through the cigarette filter, everyone around them is forced to inhale the

unfiltered smoke directly. Did you know that cigarette smoke consists of over 7,000 chemicals, and at least 69 of them are known carcinogens? Alongside nicotine, secondhand smoke causes exposure to tar, ammonia, arsenic, lead, formaldehyde, and many more toxic inhalants. Passive/Indirect Smoking vs. Secondhand Smoke These are all terms that refer to the same phenomenon in which an individual is not smoking themselves, but they are exposed to smoke due to physical proximity to a smoker. You may also encounter this referred to as Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS. Victims of passive smoking are just as at risk of developing cancer as those who actively smoke. Sources of secondhand smoke include.. Tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars Incense sticks and centered candles The kitchen stove Burning plastic Short-term effects include eye/nose/th roat irritation, exacerbation of allergies, and foul-smelling clothes, hair, car, and so on. 4 Major Long-term Effects of Secondhand Smoke 1. Increased risk of lung cancer Despite having never smoked in their lives, adults exposed to secondhand smoke are at an incredibly high risk of lung.cancer. They are 20-30% more likely to develop lung cancer compared to adults who have not been exposed to secondhand smoke.