Health risks of exposure to secondhand smoking - children

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Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic chemicals at least 40 of which are known to cause to cancer. Exposure to secondhand smoke is a real cause for concern, especially for vulnerable groups like children. Everytime anyone smokes around a child that child is smoking too. Each year 17,000 children under the age of five are admitted to hospital due to illnesses caused by secondhand smoking - more than 50 children every day!

Nearly half of all children are exposed to tobacco smoke in the home and unlike adults, they have little or no choice. Adults have a responsibility to protect children. The presence of tobacco smoke in the home is very serious because young children spend most of their time at home. Unfortunately, many parents are unaware of the true risks to their children from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Why are children at particular risk?
Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoking because their bodies are smaller and still developing. They have smaller lungs and airways and they breathe more rapidly inhaling more of the harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke. Young children who are exposed to tobacco smoke are significantly more likely to develop health problems during childhood and in later life because exposure to secondhand smoke undermines the immune system.

Sudden infant death syndrome (cot death)
Infants of parents who smoke are twice as likely to be the victims of sudden infant death syndrome. A recent study found that up to 80 cot deaths each year could be traced to maternal smoking.

Respiratory illness

• Children of parents who smoke cannot breathe to their full capacity because the toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke reduce lung function.
• Secondhand smoking irritates the lungs, leading to coughing, excess phlegm production and chest discomfort.
• Children exposed to tobacco smoke are twice as likely to be admitted to hospital because of respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

Asthma

• In the UK, eight million people suffer from asthma
• Children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to develop asthma and those with asthma are likely to have more frequent and more severe attacks.
• Every year 15,000 new cases of childhood asthma in children occur as a result of parental smoking.

Other illnesses

• Secondhand smoke affects the cardiovascular system, and exposure has been linked with the onset of chest pain in children
• Prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke, as a child, can lead to the development of heart disease, cancer and respiratory diseases in adulthood
• Coughs, wheezing and chronic chest infections are much more common in children exposed to tobacco smoke
• 'Glue ear' - secondhand smoke increases the risk of 'glue ear', the most common cause of childhood deafness
• Exposure to secondhand smoke causes irritation of the eyes, nose and throat
• Exposure to secondhand smoke causes dizziness and nausea

Steps to protect children from secondhand smoking

Smokers

• If you can't quit - smoke outside the house.
• If you must smoke indoors, choose a well-ventilated room away from children. Do not to smoke in the presence of your child or in an area where children play, eat or sleep
• Ask others not to smoke around your child
• Avoid smoking in the car. Smoke is much more concentrated in small spaces
• Choose and ask for smoke-free places when out and about with your family

Non-smokers

• Keep your home smoke free by asking visitors to smoke outside.
• Ask smokers not to smoke around your children
• Choose and ask for smoke-free places when out and about with your family.