The Basics of SHS Exposure

1
The Basics of SHS Exposure

• Contains thousands of toxic substances, including
  more than 62 known carcinogens
• Leads to nearly 38,000 deaths each year among
  adult nonsmokers in the United States
• Causes asthma, bronchitis and colds
• Causes cardiovascular disease and cancer

2004 Surgeon Generals Report
2
Death and Illness

• Causally associated
• Lung Cancer
• Nasal/ Sinus Cancer
• Correlated with
• Cervical Cancer - Lymphomas
• Bladder Cancer - Leukemia
• Breast Cancer - Brain Tumors
• Stomach Cancer

ETS is a Group A Carcinogen, containing the most
potent cancer-causing agents such as benzene,
asbestos, arsenic and vinyl chloride.
NCI, 1999
2004 Surgeon Generals Report
3
Death and Illness

• Heart disease death
• Acute and chronic heart disease

Exposure to secondhand smoke is estimated to
increase the risk of heart disease in
nonsmokers by 30, causing an estimated 35,000
to 62,000 deaths a year due to ischemic heart
disease. NCI, 1999
2004 Surgeon Generals Report
4
Effects of Exposure on Your Heart

• In a study of effects of smoking ban on heart
  attack rates among bartenders in Helena, Montana
  researchers found a 40 drop in heart attacks in
  the year after the ban was in effect.
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  recommends that anyone at risk of heart disease
  should avoid any exposure to secondhand smoke.

5 minutes of exposure smoking 1 cigarette 8
hours smoking 1 pack
British Medical Journal, April 2004
5
Secondhand Smoke and Youth Exposure

• Asthma and respiratory infections
• Recurrent ear infections and tonsillitis
• Tooth decay and cavities
• Decreased reading, math, logic skills
• Household fires
• Ingestion of poison
• Predictor of smoking behavior

6
Health Effects of Exposure During Pregnancy

• Low birth weight
• Premature birth
• Decreased lung function
• Predispose children to long-term pulmonary risks
• Spontaneous abortion
• Perinatal mortality

2004 Surgeon Generals Report
7
How does SHS affect the health of North
Carolinians?
8
Pop Quiz
You Do the Math! Exposure to secondhand smoke
kills over 38,000 people nationwide every year.
How many people will die today?
9
Steps to Reduce Exposure to SHS

• Maintain a smoke-free home and vehicle
• By not allowing anyone to smoke in the home you
  can reduce the harmful effects secondhand smoke
  has on your children, make it less convenient for
  your kids to smoke, and exemplify that smoking is
  undesirable.1
• Advocate for childcare providers to adopt
  enforce smoke-free policies.
• When your home is smoke-free it will smell
  better your food will taste better youll spend
  less time, energy and money cleaning your
  curtains, walls, mirrors and your insurance
  rates may be lower (check with your insurance
  company)

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Steps to Reduce Exposure to SHS

• Be sure your teen is working in a smoke-free
  environment. In a national study of service
  workers only 32 percent of teenage workers
  reported that their place of employment was
  smoke-free, the lowest rate of protection for any
  other age group.
• Advocate for smoke-free environments when you are
  with your family. Even a little exposure to a
  carcinogen can be harmful. Chose a smoke-free
  restaurant, bowling alley, skating rink or family
  fun center. If the place is not smoke-free be
  sure to let the managers know why you are
  choosing to take your family to another
  establishment.

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Footnotes

• 1. Farkas A, et al. Does parental smoking
  cessation discourage adolescent smoking.
  Preventive Medicine. 1999. Mar 28(3)213-8.
• 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  2003. Secondhand Smoke in Your Home. Tobacco
  Information and Prevention Source (TIPS).
  National Center For Chronic Disease Prevention
  and Health Promotion. Center for Disease Control
  and Prevention. Available at http//www.cdc.gov/t
  obacco/research_data/environmental/etsfact3.htm.
  Referenced on Nov 20, 2003.
• 3. Grimes J, et al. 1989. Educational factors
  influencing adolescent decision-making regarding
  use of alcohol and drugs. Journal of Alcohol
  Drug Education. Fall 351-15.
• 4. Gerlach K, Shopland D, Hartman A, Gibson J and
  Pechacek T. 2003. Workplace smoking policies in
  the US Results from a national survey of more
  than 100,000 workers. Tobacco Control. Vol.
  6199-206.