Secondhand Smoke Fact Sheet

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What Secondhand Smoke Is

• Secondhand smoke includes the smoke coming from the end of the cigarette as well as the smoke exhaled by the smoker.

   

• Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemical compounds, including formaldehyde, cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, and nicotine.

   

• Secondhand smoke has been classified as a Group A carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

   

• Secondhand smoke poses a health threat to those who breathe it.

Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace

• Lung Cancer For instance: Food service workers exposed to secondhand smoke at work have a 40-50% elevated risk of lung cancer, even after adjusting for active smoking.

   

• Heart Disease For instance: Workers exposed to secondhand smoke have a 35-50% increased risk of heart disease.

   

• Respiratory Diseases The effects of secondhand smoke on lung function are similar to that of light smoking and it can cause:

   

• Emphysema

   

• Chronic bronchitis

   

• Asthma attacks