Information to know
Test your knowledge Second-hand smoke
What is second-hand smoke?
Second-hand smoke is made up of the smoke that escapes directly into the air from the end of a lit cigarette, cigar, cigarillo or pipe, as well as the smoke that is exhaled by a smoker into the air.
Two-thirds of the smoke of a cigarette escapes into the environment without being inhaled by the smoker. Hence the smoke is released into the immediate surroundings and contaminates the air of the people around. Smokers are therefore not the only ones smoking their cigarettes...
Second-hand smoke contains the same 7,300 chemicals as the smoke inhaled by the smoker, of which at least 60 can cause cancer.
Among the numerous chemical components, the following are found:
| Hydrogen cyanide | A poison used to carry out the death sentence in certain countries. It is considered to be one of the most toxic agents found in tobacco smoke. |
| Ammonia | Strong cleaner also used in the manufacturing of explosives, fertilizers and paint thinners. In weak concentrations, it is very irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory system. In strong concentrations, it is lethal. |
| Arsenic | Poison formerly used as a pesticide and in rat poison, it can cause lung, bladder, skin and kidney cancer. |
| Benzene | Carcinogenic solvent and substance considered to be toxic by virtue of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. |
| DDT | Powerful insecticide that is now banned in many countries because it is too toxic. It is also a carcinogenic agent. |
| Formaldehyde | Commonly called formol, it is used to preserve dead bodies and animals and as a pesticide. It can cause cancer and respiratory problems. |
| Tar | Black, sticky material used in reroofing, tar is made up of hundreds of chemical substances that accumulate in the lungs and interfere with breathing. It also contributes to the onset of pulmonary diseases and lung cancer. |
| Nicotine | The substance that causes physical dependence on tobacco, nicotine is a poison that, in strong concentrations, can cause vomiting, tremors, convulsions and even death. |
| Carbon monoxide | Poisonous gas that comes out of car exhausts, it also escapes from the end of a lit cigarette, replaces oxygen in the blood and reduces oxygenation of tissues (heart, brain, certain muscles, etc.). In weak doses, it promotes cardiovascular diseases and is lethal in strong doses. |
| Turpentine | Solvent used to make varnish and also as a cleaning product and paint thinner. |
What effects can second-hand smoke have on health?
- irritate the eyes, nose and throat
- cause headaches, dizziness and nausea
- aggravate the symptoms and accelerate the progress of respiratory diseases
- increase the risks of respiratory infections:
- cold
- flu
- bronchitis (acute bronchitis)
- pneumonia
No need to be a smoker to suffer from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. It is toxic for everyone: not just for the people who smoke, but also for those who breathe the smoke that enters the environment.
Second-hand smoke can:
Regular exposure to second-hand smoke is the second cause of lung cancer (smoking is the primary cause) and can contribute to significantly increasing the risks of cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease and of respiratory disorders.
In Canada, approximately 1,107 non-smokers die each year due to the effects of second-hand smoke. In Quebec, it is estimated that 136 non-smokers succumb to lung cancer due to inhaling second-hand smoke and that 223 others die of heart disease implicating it.
