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Smoking Cessation
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
A Report of the Surgeon General, June 2006
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure
to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General
was released on June 27, 2006. This important and
ground-breaking report extends our understanding of
the very serious health effects of exposure to
secondhand smoke.
The full report, the Executive Summary, and other
Department of Health and Human Services materials
related to the report, can be found at the link
below:
http://surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/*
* External Link Disclaimer:
All the links marked with asterisk ( * ) are External links. By clicking on
these links, you will leave the Department of Veterans Affairs Website. VA does
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Major Conclusions
The major conclusions of the Report are as
follows:
- “Secondhand smoke causes premature death and
disease in children and adults who do not smoke.
- Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at
increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome
(SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems,
and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes
respiratory symptoms and slows lung development in
children.
- Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke
has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular
system and causes coronary heart disease and lung
cancer.
- The scientific evidence indicated that
there is no risk-free level of exposure to
secondhand smoke.
- Many millions of Americans,
both children and adults, are still exposed to
secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces
despite substantial progress to tobacco control.
- Eliminating smoking in indoor areas fully protects
nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke.
Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the
air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate
exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.”
(SG
Report, 2006)
This report has important implications for our
work with not only patients who smoke, but also
their family members, our patients who live or work
with smokers, and for any parent whose child may be
exposed to secondhand smoke. The Department of
Health and Human Services has prepared a number of
very helpful materials designed to help educate
patients, employers, and others about the health
consequences of secondhand smoke and next steps they
can take as well.
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