The 31st of May marks World No Tobacco Day. If you’re a non-smoker you may think you aren’t affected by tobacco but the truth is that second hand smoke inhaled from cigarettes and other tobacco products affects non-smokers and can lead to serious lung diseases.
Irritating gases and/or cigarette smoke may cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). COPD is not necessarily caused by smoking, and conditions at work have been shown to be a causative factor in 15% of cases.
Shocking news is that Cape Town recently recorded the highest prevalence rate of COPD – currently the number three cause of death globally – of 24 countries, representing 47 cities and towns around the world.
Different kinds of second hand smoke
Mainstream smoke is the smoke that is produced by smokers, and side stream is the smoke that comes from the tip of a cigarette or a cigar or pipe.
Exposure to second hand smoke is never safe as it is exactly the same smoke inhaled by smokers, containing the same harmful chemicals. There are as many as 7,000 chemicals in second hand smoke and 70 of these may lead to lung cancer.
Apart from cancer second hand smoke is also associated with stroke and heart disease.
Apart from that, it ups the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and can cause problems like asthma, ear infections and pneumonia in older children.
Other sources of smoke
Third hand smoke can be problematic too. This refers to the harmful chemicals that are absorbed by upholstery, upholstery and curtains and tend to linger for a long time. The smoke from pipes, cigars and cigarettes is not the only culprit and the biomass fuel used for cooking by large numbers of people in poorer countries can also be a problem. Biomass fuel is often used in places where there is insufficient ventilation and is also linked to COPD.
According to the WHO, gas appliances, candles, fireplaces, incense, candles and mosquito coils in malaria areas may also contribute to the development of lung diseases. Many countries have banned smoking in public places, but this is not enough as there are many other sources of second hand smoke affecting the health of whole populations.