Effects That Smokers Have on Non-Smokers

The hazards of smoking have long been known. Smokers face health risks such as cancer and heart disease. Non-smokers, exposed to the smoke exhaled by the smoker, can also face these same serious health risks. More than 250 chemicals are contained in second-hand smoke, 50 of which are cancer causing, according the for the Center for Disease Control. Second-hand smoke has also been linked to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and respiratory issues in children.

Cancer

• Concentrations of many of the cancer-causing and toxic chemicals are higher in second-hand smoke than what the smoker inhales, according to the Surgeon General. In fact, non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or work increase their chances of lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.

Heart Disease

• Even short exposure to second-hand smoke can make blood platelets become sticky, damage blood vessels and increase the risk of heart attack. The excess risk for coronary heart disease in those exposed to cigarette smoke is 50 to 60 percent and the risks are indistinguishable from active smokers, according to a 2004 article in the "British Medical Journal."

Respiratory Issues

• Second-hand smoke contains many chemicals that can damage or irritate the linings of airways. These chemicals can make breathing difficult or result in respiratory infections in even healthy adults. Children and adults with asthma can have increased attacks when exposed to second-hand smoke.

Children

• Children may be the most vulnerable to second-hand smoke. Babies exposed to second-hand smoke face increased risk of bronchitis, pneumonia, ear infections and SIDS. The smoke may also cause higher rates of asthma attacks in children with high exposure levels. Being exposed to second-hand smoke also effects children's abilities to learn in school with math and visuospatial reasoning being the most effected, according to the Environmental Health Perspectives.