The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (2006)

Smoking & How to Quit Home > Surgeon General's Reports > The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke (2006)

This Surgeon General's Report finds there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. This means that being around any amount of secondhand is harmful. Major findings include:

• In nonsmoking adults, secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of getting heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.
• In infants and children, secondhand smoke exposure can cause sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), breathing problems, ear infections, and asthma attacks.
• Nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke.
• Even brief secondhand smoke exposure can cause immediate harm.
• Even the best ventilation systems cannot completely eliminate secondhand smoke exposure. The only way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke is to eliminate smoking indoors.

To read the full report or the summary, go to www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke

Content last updated March 19, 2008.