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What Effects do Public Smokers have on People?

Public smokers impact the health of people who are near them in restaurants, bars, shopping centers, public transportation and even daycare centers and schools. Secondhand smoke from pipes, cigars and cigarettes releases nicotine and other toxic chemicals into the air. When smokers light a pipe, cigar or cigarette in public, people in their vicinity are exposed to the smoke. Anyone who is continually exposed to smokers in public will have higher concentrations of these toxic chemicals in their body and are at a greater risk for smoking related diseases.

  1. Cancer

    • Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer.

      The United States Environmental Protection Agency, the United States National Toxicology Program, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and the U.S. Surgeon General classify secondhand smoke that people breathe in from smokers as a "known human carcinogen." Sixty-nine chemicals released in secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke, cause cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that 3,000 nonsmoking adults exposed to secondhand smoke die from lung cancer each year in the United States.

    Heart Disease

    • Exposure to secondhand smoke at home or in public places increases the risk for heart disease.

      According to the American Lung Association, secondhand smoke causes approximately 22,700 to 69,600 deaths from heart disease every year. Individuals exposed to secondhand smoke either at home or in public places like work increase their risk for heart disease by 25 to 30 percent. The American Heart Association states that this is a public health problem because half of all nonsmoking Americans are exposed to secondhand smoke. Constant exposure to smoke in public places doubles an individual's chance of having a heart attack, according to the American Heart Association.

    Respiratory Illness

    • People exposed to secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars have an increased risk for health problems.

      Secondhand smoke causes an estimated 3,400 deaths from lung cancer each year, according to the American Lung Association. People exposed to secondhand smoke in public places like restaurants and bars are at an increased risk for health problems. Secondhand smoke in restaurants and bars is two to five times higher than levels of secondhand smoke in homes. Exposure to secondhand smoke can make the symptoms associated with asthma and other respiratory illnesses worse.

    Children and Secondhand Smoke

    • Children exposed to secondhand smoke in public places face increased health risks.

      While the greatest risk to children from secondhand smoke occurs in a smoker's home, children are still exposed to secondhand smoke in public places. The National Cancer Institute says that when children are exposed to secondhand smoke, they are at an increased risk for ear infections, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis and more serious asthma attacks. Exposure to secondhand smoke slows the development of a child's lungs and can cause coughing and wheezing in children.

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