What is secondhand smoke?

Whenever you light up, secondhand smoke is produced. This is the smoke exhaled by you, plus the smoke created by the lit end of a cigarette. Secondhand smoke is made up of gases and microscopic particles. This isn't just unpleasant, it can be a killer.

Here's a little taster of what secondhand smoke contains:

  • For starters there's Arsenic. This is the stuff that's used in rat poison.
  • Then there's Benzene which is found in petrol fumes and can cause leukaemia.
  • And Cyanide, which is poisonous and an industrial pollutant.

Plus about 4,500 other chemicals, many of which are irritants or toxins and more than 50 are known carcinogens. They're the ones that can cause cancer.

Over 80% of secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless.

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The harms caused by secondhand smoke

  • People who breathe secondhand smoke are at risk of many of the same diseases as smokers, including cancer and heart disease.
  • Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at risk of bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma attacks, meningitis and ear infections.
  • Babies exposed to secondhand smoke are more at risk of cot death.
  • Breathing secondhand smoke increases a child's or an adult's risk of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%
  • Children breathing in other people's cigarette smoke resulted in 300,000 GP visits and 9,500 hospital admissions last year in the UK.
  • Test your knowledge and learn more about secondhand smoke Fact or Fiction?

Fact or Fiction? Test your knowledge

"Smoking with the door open or out of the window is fine as the smoke will blow away"

Fiction

Harmful cigarette smoke can still blow back inside. And because more than 80% of smoke is invisible, you can't see where it goes making it impossible to control.

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Fact or Fiction? Test your knowledge

"I smoke in the car with the windows open so my family won't be affected by the smoke."

Fiction

Because you can't control or see secondhand smoke, you don't know where it is going. Secondhand smoke can easily blow back into a car when smoking out of the window.

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Fact or Fiction? Test your knowledge

"I only smoke in one room of the house when the kids are out, so they're protected"

Fiction

Secondhand smoke can linger in the air long after a cigarette is put out.

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Fact or Fiction? Test your knowledge

"Secondhand smoke isn't just harmful to babies; it can affect kids and adult non-smokers too."

Fact

Babies and smaller children's health is particularly at risk from secondhand smoke, but it can harm older kids and adults too. Breathing secondhand smoke can significantly increase the risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease.

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Fact or Fiction? Test your knowledge

"Just because I smoke, that doesn't mean my children will when they grow up."

Fiction

Children who grow up in a smoking household are 90% more likely to become smokers themselves. Once addicted, smokers continue to smoke for many years and half of long term smokers die prematurely because of their habit.

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There is only one way to protect your family and friends from secondhand smoke

Fact

A completely smokefree home and car is the only way to be sure your children and family are protected from the dangers of secondhand smoke.

To take your first step towards a smokefree future, order the new Smokefree Kit - packed full of additional facts, tools & tips.

Order your Smokefree Kit

Order your Smokefree Kit

The only way to protect others from the harms of secondhand smoke is to have a completely smokefree home and car. The Smokefree Kit contains facts, tools and tips to help you on your way to a smokefree future.

Order your Smokefree Kit