Tabacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals. A burning tip of a cigarette is like a mini chemical factory

Environmental Tobacco Smoke/ Passive Smoking

When non-smokers share a space with someone who is smoking they are being exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or passive smoke.

ETS / Passive Smoke is made up of:

· Mainstream smoke, which is the smoke inhaled and then exhaled by the smoker into the environment.
· Side stream smoke, which comes from the burning tip of the cigarette and is far more dangerous than the mainstream smoke inhaled by the smoker as it contains higher concentrations of harmful chemicals.

It is not only visible smoke that poses a problem but also the invisible gases, which we may not even realise we are breathing in.

Health Risks of ETS/Passive Smoke:

Smoking not only damages the health of smokers themselves but the health of those around them.

ETS/ Passive Smoke causes serious disease

· It increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease in non-smokers;
· It puts people suffering from breathing disorders and heart disease at particular risk;
· It makes illnesses such as asthma and chronic bronchitis worse.

Non-smokers are at risk from the health damaging effects of ETS/ Passive Smoke

Other ill effects of ETS/ Passive Smoke include:

· Sore eyes, nose and throat

· Coughs and sneezes

· Breathing problems such as bronchitis and pneumonia

· Headaches, dizziness and nausea.

Children at Risk

Smoking in the presence of young children can cause them serious illness and may make them more likely to suffer health problems in later life.

Their health may be endangered even before birth:

· Smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
· Smoking in the presence of a pregnant woman may also endanger the health of the foetus (unborn baby).
· Passive smoking increases the risk of cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome).

It also causes:

· Slower lung growth and less healthy lungs.
· Children with asthma suffer more severe and more frequent attacks if regularly exposed to passive smoking.
· Passive smoking also leads to ear infections and more frequent coughs and sore throats.
· The commonest cause of deafness in children is associated with passive smoking

Towards a healthier workplace

Legislation is being put in place to help protect people from the harmful effects of passive smoking.
Anyone prosecuted for smoking in a no-smoking area is liable to a fine. The person in charge of no-smoking areas must ensure that the restrictions are complied with.

For more information on the Smoke Free at Work Legislation click on the following links:

www.smokefreeatwork.ie
www.doh.ie Department of Health and Children
www.hsa.ie Health and Safety Authority
www.otc.ie Office of Tobacco Control