June 27, 2006 -- Surgeon General Cites Dangers of Secondhand Tobacco Smoke

In a report released today, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona concludes that despite progress in tobacco control, millions of Americans are still exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke in their homes and workplaces, with the consequences especially bad for children. The report notes that children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. “Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children,” the report says. Surgeon General Carmona called the health effects of secondhand smoke for both children and adults “more pervasive than we previously thought” and suggested that the best way to prevent exposure is to ban smoking in all indoor spaces. Findings of the report include:

• Almost 60 percent of children aged 3 to 11 years are exposed to secondhand smoke;
• Secondhand smoke contains many chemicals that can quickly irritate and damage the linings of the airways;
• Ventilation technology and conventional air cleaning systems do not remove the smaller particles or gases found in secondhand smoke;
• In national surveys, 43 percent of U.S. nonsmokers have detectable levels of contine, a chemical that is a biomarker of secondhand smoke exposure.

The full report, "The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke," is available online at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov.