Exposure to secondhand smokes carries the same long-term health risks as smoking.
Secondhand smoke is a mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke exhaled by smokers. It contains over 7,000 chemicals, including at least 250 that are known to be harmful, with more than 60 classified as carcinogens.
Exposure to secondhand smoke has been linked to a variety of health problems, including cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma. In fact, the U.S. Surgeon General has stated that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can be harmful to health.
Just like active smoking, long-term exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of developing serious health conditions and can have negative impacts on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Children, pregnant women, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke.
In order to protect yourself and your loved ones from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, it is important to avoid exposure whenever possible and advocate for smoke-free environments in public spaces.