1. What proportion of cigarette smoke is released into the environment?
a) very little
b) 1/3
c) 2/3
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: c) 2/3.
Two-thirds of the smoke that a cigarette produces is not inhaled by the smoker, but is released into the immediate environment and contaminates the air of the people in the area. So a non-smoker in a room filled with smoke inhales the same chemical substances as a smoker. Even a person who is 50 cm away from a lit cigarette can inhale 10 times the amount of toxic substances than the smoker inhales directly.
Smokers are not alone in smoking their cigarettes...
That’s the right answer!
Two-thirds of the smoke that a cigarette produces is not inhaled by the smoker, but is released into the immediate environment and contaminates the air of the people in the area. So a non-smoker in a room filled with smoke inhales the same chemical substances as a smoker. Even a person who is 50 cm away from a lit cigarette can inhale 10 times the amount of toxic substances than the smoker inhales directly.
Smokers are not alone in smoking their cigarettes...
2. Second-hand smoke contains 4,800 chemical substances. How many of those can cause cancer?
a) 20
b) 40
c) 60
d) 80
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: c) 60.
Second-hand smoke contains the same 4,800 chemical substances that are inhaled by a smoker. Around 60 of those substances are associated with cancer or are known “carcinogens.” Some are natural components of tobacco leaves; others are produced by the burning of the tobacco.
In the United States, second-hand smoke has been designated as a Category A carcinogenic substance, considered to be the most dangerous. No safe level of exposure is known to this day.
That’s the right answer!
Second-hand smoke contains the same 4,800 chemical substances that are inhaled by a smoker. Around 60 of those substances are associated with cancer or are known “carcinogens.” Some are natural components of tobacco leaves; others are produced by the burning of the tobacco.
In the United States, second-hand smoke has been designated as a Category A carcinogenic substance, considered to be the most dangerous. No safe level of exposure is known to this day.
3. Which of these chemical components are found in second-hand smoke?
a) Arsenic
b) Hydrogen cyanide
c) Benzene
d) Formaldehyde
e) All of the above
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: e) All of the above.
Arsenic is a fatal poison used in pesticides. Hydrogen cyanide is a poison used to execute death sentences and is considered to be one of the most toxic agents found in cigarette smoke. Benzene is a cancer-causing substance that is considered toxic according to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Formaldehyde is used to preserve dead bodies and can cause cancer.
And that’s just 4 of the 60 chemical substances found in cigarette smoke that can cause cancer...
That’s the right answer!
Arsenic is a fatal poison used in pesticides. Hydrogen cyanide is a poison used to execute death sentences and is considered to be one of the most toxic agents found in cigarette smoke. Benzene is a cancer-causing substance that is considered toxic according to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act. Formaldehyde is used to preserve dead bodies and can cause cancer.
And that’s just 4 of the 60 chemical substances found in cigarette smoke that can cause cancer...
4. Which of these strategies reduces the harmful effects of second-hand smoke?
a) Restricting smoking to a single room in the home
b) Opening a door or window
c) Smoking under the oven fan
d) Having a ventilation system
e) Using an air purifier
f) None of these strategies
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: f) None of these strategies.
Second-hand smoke drifts from one room to another even if the door to the room where a person is smoking is closed. As well, chemical substances can adhere to rugs, curtains, clothes, food, furniture and other material, staying in a room long after someone has smoked there – up to days, weeks or months.
Ventilation systems, oven fans, air purifiers, open windows in the car or house: nothing can effectively eliminate all cigarette smoke.
That’s the right answer!
Second-hand smoke drifts from one room to another even if the door to the room where a person is smoking is closed. As well, chemical substances can adhere to rugs, curtains, clothes, food, furniture and other material, staying in a room long after someone has smoked there – up to days, weeks or months.
Ventilation systems, oven fans, air purifiers, open windows in the car or house: nothing can effectively eliminate all cigarette smoke.
5. What percentage of Quebec families prohibits the use of tobacco in the home?
a) 76 %
b) 55 %
c) 43 %
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: c) 43%.
Only 43% of Quebec families prohibit the use of tobacco in the home, compared to the Canadian average of 64%. In 2007, 9% of Canadian children under the age of 18 were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home (7% for those under 12 and 13% for those aged 12 to 17). In Quebec, 17% of children under 18 are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home (14% for those under 12 and 22% for those aged 12 to 17).
And that is why an initiative like Smoke-Free Family is important. Thank you for helping to change these statistics.
That’s the right answer!
Only 43% of Quebec families prohibit the use of tobacco in the home, compared to the Canadian average of 64%. In 2007, 9% of Canadian children under the age of 18 were regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home (7% for those under 12 and 13% for those aged 12 to 17). In Quebec, 17% of children under 18 are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke at home (14% for those under 12 and 22% for those aged 12 to 17).
And that is why an initiative like Smoke-Free Family is important. Thank you for helping to change these statistics.
6. Why are children more threatened by second-hand smoke than adults?
a) Their breathing is faster
b) They have a lower body weight
c) They can’t, in many cases, complain about the smoke or get away from it
d) All of the above
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: d) All of the above.
Second-hand smoke hurts everyone, but it is particularly dangerous for children because their lungs have not finished developing. With smaller lungs, children breathe faster and so inhale more toxic chemical substances than adults. And since the littlest ones can’t move around, they have no choice but to breathe in the smoke.
So if 2 parents smoke a total of 15 cigarettes a day in their home, their child breathes the smoke of 5,475 cigarettes per year – the equivalent of more than 200 packs!
That’s the right answer!
Second-hand smoke hurts everyone, but it is particularly dangerous for children because their lungs have not finished developing. With smaller lungs, children breathe faster and so inhale more toxic chemical substances than adults. And since the littlest ones can’t move around, they have no choice but to breathe in the smoke.
So if 2 parents smoke a total of 15 cigarettes a day in their home, their child breathes the smoke of 5,475 cigarettes per year – the equivalent of more than 200 packs!
7. For children, second-hand smoke increases the risk of
a) Ear infections
b) Asthma
c) Tonsillitis
d) Sudden infant death syndrome
e) All of the above
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: e) All of the above.
A child’s immune system is less developed than that of an adult and can’t protect them as much from illness or from cigarette smoke. For children regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, the risk of respiratory problems like asthma, and of experiencing lung damage, is 50% higher. As well, babies who breathe second-hand smoke are at a higher risk of dying in their beds from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Children certainly are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of second-hand smoke.
That’s the right answer!
A child’s immune system is less developed than that of an adult and can’t protect them as much from illness or from cigarette smoke. For children regularly exposed to second-hand smoke, the risk of respiratory problems like asthma, and of experiencing lung damage, is 50% higher. As well, babies who breathe second-hand smoke are at a higher risk of dying in their beds from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Children certainly are the most vulnerable to the toxic effects of second-hand smoke.
8. True or False. Living in a smoke-free home reduces the risk that a young person will start smoking.
a) True
b) False
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: a) True.
Several studies have shown that a smoke-free home reduces not only children’s health risks associated with the exposure to second-hand smoke, but also the risk that they’ll experiment with smoking in elementary and secondary school. Experts agree that parents, whether smokers or not, can reduce the risk that their children will smoke by taking a clear position against smoking. However, if you are a smoker, the most significant gesture you can make to help keep your children from smoking is butting out for yourself.
These are concrete actions you can take as a parent to reduce the risk of your children starting smoking.
That’s the right answer!
Several studies have shown that a smoke-free home reduces not only children’s health risks associated with the exposure to second-hand smoke, but also the risk that they’ll experiment with smoking in elementary and secondary school. Experts agree that parents, whether smokers or not, can reduce the risk that their children will smoke by taking a clear position against smoking. However, if you are a smoker, the most significant gesture you can make to help keep your children from smoking is butting out for yourself.
9. In Canada, how many non-smokers die every year from the effects of second-hand smoke?
a) 250
b) 450
c) 800
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: c) 800.
Every year, tobacco smoke kills over 800 non-smokers in Canada. In Quebec, an estimated 63 non-smokers die from lung cancer related to breathing tobacco smoke, and 145 others die from heart diseade related to second-hand smoke.
That’s the right answer!
Every year, tobacco smoke kills over 800 non-smokers in Canada. In Quebec, an estimated 63 non-smokers die from lung cancer related to breathing tobacco smoke, and 145 others die from heart diseade related to second-hand smoke.
10.True or false. Second-hand smoke has little effect on pets.
a) True
b) False
Sorry, that’s incorrect. The right answer is: b) False.
Second-hand smoke also affects pets. Their fur traps toxins from smoke, which they swallow when they lick to clean themselves. Second-hand smoke can cause leukemia in cats and increase the risk of cancer in dogs.
That’s the right answer!
Second-hand smoke also affects pets. Their fur traps toxins from smoke, which they swallow when they lick to clean themselves. Second-hand smoke can cause leukemia in cats and increase the risk of cancer in dogs.
If you had 7 or more correct answers...
Congratulations! You have a good knowledge of the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. To help you to create, make known and protect your smoke-free environment, consult our Need some tips? section.
If you had less than 7 correct answers...
Doing this test was a good step towards increasing your knowledge about second-hand smoke and its harmful effects. Visit the Why live smoke-free? section to learn even more about second-hand smoke and the advantages of living smoke-free.
