Do you know someone who smokes? Forget about all the damage they are doing to themselves, just think about all of that second hand smoke you are being exposed to. Not only yourself, but what about the smoker’s family? What about anyone who enters the smokers abode?

In 2000, the National Institutes of Health (prepared by the National Toxicology Program) released the 9th edition of a report on Carcinogens. A carcinogen is any substance or exposure to the substance that are “known” or are “reasonably anticipated” to be cancer causing. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS, second hand smoke) is generated from exhaled smoke, as well as the smoke given off by the burning end of cigarettes, pipes and cigars. This type of smoke is listed in the report as a “known human carcinogen.” There are significant studies referenced in the report noting that spouses of smokers and co-workers of smokers are at an increased fist of lung cancer due to this ETS. Just imagine what this second hand smoke does to children. We will get to the effects of ETS on children in a few moments.

Tobacco smoke which is directly inhaled, is also noted as a “known human carcinogen.” It is long known that cigarette smoking causes cancer in humans and is now considered to be the leading preventable cause of cancer. Another form of tobacco is smokeless tobacco. This is in the form of chewing tobacco and snuff. This type of tobacco is known to cause cancers in the oral area (mouth, lips, tongue).

Now, onto the effects of this second hand ETS smoke on children. Children are especially vulnerable to second hand smoke. Since their bodies are still developing, and they have a higher breathing rate vs. adults, children are at the greatest risk of developing serious health effects. ETS can cause asthma in children. ETS increases the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Infants younger than 6 years old are also at risk for lower respiratory track infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis and also middle ear infections.

On June 27th, 2006, the Surgeon General released a major new report on involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke, concluding that secondhand smoke causes disease and death in children and nonsmoking adults. The report finds a causal relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), and declares that the home is becoming the predominant location for exposure of children and adults to secondhand smoke. http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20060627.html

The National Survey on Environmental Management of Asthma and Children’s Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke (NSEMA/CEE) done in 2004 by the EPA finds that 11% of children under 6 years old are exposed to second hand smoke on a regular basis. Parents of these children were found to be responsible for 90% of the children’s exposure. http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/pdfs/survey_fact_sheet.pdf

Now that we know all the bad news and statistics about ETS (second hand smoke), what can we do to help our children?

First and foremost, PLEASE quit smoking! Secondly, help to improve the air inside your home and the amount of ETS your child(ren) is exposed to. One way to improve your indoor air pollution from tobacco smoke is to use an air purifier cleaner. There are many different types of air cleaner purifiers out there. Invest some time and research to find the right type and model for your home. This will help you understand the different types of air cleaner purifiers available.

An air cleaner should not be expected to remove 100% of all pollutants in the air. An air cleaner purifier should be used in conjunction with the removal of toxins from the air in other ways too. A great way to do this is to begin replacing all toxic cleaning products in your home with safer ones. By replacing your cleaners, the toxins that they dispel into the air will be removed.