Second-hand Smoke

Second-hand smoke (SHS) is:

• The smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe.
• The smoke breathed out by a smoker.
• Tobacco smoke lingers on clothes and other surfaces even after a cigarette, pipe or cigar has been put out¹
• This lingering tobacco smoke has recently been called third-hand smoke¹

• Why second-hand smoke is dangerous
• How second-hand smoke harms children
• Protecting children from second-hand smoke
• Smoking in child care centres
• Smoking with children in the car
• More about smoking and smoke-free spaces
• FREE help to quit smoking
• References

Why Second-hand Smoke is Dangerous to Health

• No amount of second-hand smoke is safe. ²
• Second-hand smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. More than 50 of these chemicals are known or suspected to cause cancer. ²
• Second-hand smoke causes lung cancer and heart disease in adults. ²
• Second-hand smoke spreads through all rooms of a building, harming the health of everyone exposed. ³

How Second-hand Smoke Harms Children

Children are especially at risk to the health dangers of second-hand smoke.

• Second-hand smoke (SHS) is more harmful for children because their lungs are smaller and they breathe more rapidly than adults. ³
• Children exposed to SHS are more likely to develop asthma, ear infections, bronchitis and pneumonia. ³
• Babies who regularly breathe second-hand smoke have a greater chance of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (also known as ‘crib death’). ²
• Exposure to second-hand smoke is a serious health risk for growing children. Studies show SHS has negative effect on how well children pay attention, think and behave. ⁴

• Children can’t avoid second-hand smoke by themselves.
• It's our responsibility — as parents, caregivers and child care providers — to protect children from exposure by keeping their indoor and outdoor environments smoke-free.

• The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking in day nurseries* and licensed private-home day cares*.
• This does NOT apply to unlicensed child care providers – although they should be encouraged to provide smoke-free environments as well.
• More information

Smoking with Children in the Car

• Since January 21, 2009, smoking inside a vehicle with a child under the age of sixteen has been against the law. ⁵
• It doesn’t matter if the vehicle is parked or moving, or whether a door, window or sunroof is open. ⁶
• Both drivers and passengers could be charged for smoking while someone under sixteen years old is present in the vehicle. ⁶

More about smoking and smoke-free spaces

• Call us at 905-799-7700 (toll-free from Caledon at 905-584-2216) for more information about the health effects of smoking, second-hand smoke and how to create smoke-free spaces.

FREE Help to Quit Smoking

Ready to quit smoking? We offer free support and counselling.

Call us at 905-799-7700 for more information or to book an appointment

Or read more about the Peel Health Quit Smoking Program.

References

• ¹ Winickoff, Jonathan P., Friebely, Joan, Tanski, Susann E. , Sherrod, Cheryl et al. Beliefs about the Health Effects of  “Thirdhand” Smoke and Home Smoking Bans. Pediatrics: January 2009: 123 (1): e74-e79.
• ² Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, 2006: (fact sheet) Health Effects of Second-Hand Smoke. [PDF]
• ³ Health Canada, 2006: Make your Home and Car Smoke-Free: A Guide to Protecting your Family from Second-Hand Smoke. [PDF]
• ⁴ Ontario Medical Association, 2004: Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke: Are we Protecting our Kids? Toronto: Ontario Medical Association. [PDF]
  * As defined by the Government of Ontario (1990) Day Nurseries Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. D.2
• ⁵ Government of Ontario. (1994). Smoke-Free Ontario Act, S.O. 1994 c. 10 Accessed February 5, 2010. Available from: http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_94t10_e.htm
• ⁶ Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, 2009.  “Smoking in Motor Vehicles with Children Present” (fact sheet).

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