Passive smoking

Smoke fills the air when you exhale tobacco smoke. It can also be released from the end of a burning cigarette, or if you leave a smouldering cigarette that’s not fully extinguished.

Smoke from the end of a cigarette may be even more toxic than the smoke inhaled by someone who smokes.

There is no safe level of exposure to passive smoking.  The World Health Organization has estimated that around 1.2 million people around the world die each year due to second-hand smoke.

Children are particularly at risk of developing health problems if they are exposed to passive smoking.

Second-hand smoke facts

• Second-hand smoke may become more toxic as it goes from fresh to stale.
• There is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke.
• Second-hand smoke contains more than 7000 chemicals, including 69 chemicals that cause cancer.
• Passive smoking can cause premature death in people who don’t smoke.
• The risk of coronary heart disease for people exposed to passive smoking is almost the same as for people who smoke.
• People who don’t smoke, but who live with someone who does smoke, are 20% to 30% more likely to develop lung cancer.

How to reduce the risk of passive smoking

If you're not ready to quit smoking, you can reduce the risk of other people inhaling second-hand smoke by following these steps:

• Don’t smoke indoors or inside your car.
• When you step outside of a building to smoke, don’t smoke near open windows or doors.
• Make sure you don’t bring any tobacco smoke with you when you go back inside. 
• You can bring smoking particles into your home on your clothing – try wearing a ‘smoking jacket’ that you can leave outside.
• Have a shower and change your clothes if you’ve been smoking.