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Fact Sheet

Ventilation Does Not Effectively Protect Nonsmokers from Secondhand Smoke

(October 2006)

• There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Even low levels of exposure can harm nonsmokers' health.¹
• Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate secondhand smoke exposure.¹
• Conventional air cleaning systems can remove large particles, but not the smaller particles or the gases found in secondhand smoke.¹
• Current heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems alone cannot control secondhand smoke exposure. These systems can distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building.¹
• The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the preeminent U.S. standard-setting body on ventilation issues, has concluded that ventilation systems cannot remove secondhand smoke from indoor environments.²
• Even separately enclosed, separately exhausted, negative-pressure smoking rooms cannot keep secondhand smoke from spilling into adjacent areas. In practice, employees are often required to enter such rooms in order to perform their job duties. Employees and patrons in such rooms are likely to be exposed to especially high levels of secondhand smoke.¹
• Establishing a smoke-free environment is the only effective way to protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.¹

References

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006 [cited 2006 Oct 23]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/sgr_2006/index.htm
2. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Position Document. Atlanta, Georgia: 2005 [cited 2006 Oct 23].

For Further Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO

Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line at 770-488-5493.

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