IN YOUR HOME 


There is no safe amount of secondhand smoke exposure. The home is the main 
place many children and adults breathe in secondhand smoke. 


What is secondhand smoke? 


It is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by 
a smoker. When a person smokes near you, you can be exposed to secondhand smoke. 


The Surgeon General concluded: 
There is no safe level Cleaning the air and Secondhand smoke causes 
of secondhand ventilating buildings disease and early death in 
smoke exposure. cannot get rid of children and in adults who 
secondhand smoke. do not smoke. 


In the United States: 


@ 


Approximately 58 million About 2 in 5 children (including 7 in The home is the main place 
(1 in 4) nonsmokers are 10 black children) are exposed to where children are exposed to 
exposed to secondhand smoke. secondhand smoke. secondhand smoke. 


www.cdc.gov/tobacco 


CS260251-G 


Secondhand smoke exposure among 
babies and children can cause: 


- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 
- Lung problems 


Secondhand smoke exposure 
among adults can cause: 


« Heart disease 
- Stroke 
- Lung Cancer 


» 


- Ear infections 
« Asthma attacks 


Did You Know? 


Secondhand smoke can travel 
through doorways, cracks in 
walls, electrical lines, ventilation 
systems and plumbing. 


Opening windows using fans heating, air conditioning 


and ventilation systems 


cannot eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. 


In fact, these systems can distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building. 


U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services 
Centers for Disease 


Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov/tobacco