second-hand smoke

second-hand smoke is tobacco smoke that affects a non-smoker. second-hand smoke can come directly from a cigarette or other lit tobacco; it may also be exhaled by a person smoking.

second-hand smoke is sometimes referred to as environmental tobacco smoke (ets), involuntary smoking, or passive smoking.

second-hand smoke contains the same cancer-causing and lung-damaging chemicals that affect smokers. repeated exposure to second-hand smoke over many years can cause damage to a non-smoker's lungs that is similar to that of a smoker's.

second-hand smoke is the most important risk factor for cancer among non-smokers, far greater than other known cancer-causing substances. second-hand smoke is most harmful to:

anyone who lives or spends time with someone who smokes.
a developing fetus, if the person who is pregnant smokes or is around people who smoke.
people who spend most of their time in confined areas that are filled with tobacco smoke.

second-hand aerosol from vapes does not contain as much nicotine and other harmful chemicals as second-hand tobacco smoke does. but there is a concern about possible health risks from second-hand aerosol exposure.

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second-hand smoke

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