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What Is Mainstream Smoking?

Smoking is dangerous to smokers and all those around them. According to the Environmental Protection Agency secondhand smoke is responsible for cancer, heart disease and lung disease in many non-smokers. Mainstream smoke is the smoke exhaled from a smoker's lungs and it can cause health problems in non-smokers who are exposed to it.

  1. Features

    • Mainstream smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals including over 40 that cause cancer and 200 that are known poisons. Secondhand smoke contains more tar, nicotine, carbon monoxide, ammonia and cancer causing benzpyrene than smoke inhaled by a smoker through a filter.

    Effects

    • Exposure to mainstream smoke in non-smokers causes a 20 percent higher death rate from heart disease and lung cancer. Even small amounts of smoke increase cholesterol, cause blood platelets to stick together and harden arteries. Incidents of lung cancer and other types of cancer increase with exposure to secondhand smoke.

    Infant Exposure

    • Pregnant women who breathe in mainstream smoke have a higher chance of miscarriage and stillbirth than those not exposed to smoke. Children may be born with a lower birth weight and lower lung function. Babies born to passive smokers are more likely to die of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

    Exposure in Children

    • Children exposed to mainstream smoke have more colds, ear infections and sinus infections than those not exposed to passive smoke. They are more likely to develop lung diseases such as asthma and pneumonia. According to the Surgeon General, chemicals in secondhand smoke interfere with the brain's ability to regulate breathing, especially in babies.

    Considerations

    • Assigned smoking sections, opening a window and ventilating systems do not protect non-smokers from environmental tobacco smoke. Even brief exposure to mainstream smoke interferes with the heart, blood vessels and vascular systems.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Keep as far away from smokers as possible. Demand smoking restrictions in your workplace and don't allow smoking in your home or car. Use businesses with no smoking policies and use smoke-free daycare centers and long term care facilities.

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