Yes. Breathing in someone else’s cigarette smoke (passive smoking or secondhand smoking) can increase your risk of cancer and other health problems. It is also particularly harmful for children.
Smoke stays in the air
When someone smokes a cigarette, the smoke from the burning tip stays in the air. So does the smoke they breathe out. Smoke can stay in the air for up to two and a half hours. It may still be there even if you can’t see it or smell it.
This also applies in small enclosed places, such as cars. Smoke may still be present in large amounts even after the person has stopped smoking.
Risks of passive smoking
Passive smoking can damage your body because secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 toxic (harmful) chemicals, many of which are known to cause cancer. Passive smoking from all forms of tobacco is harmful, including:
- cigarettes
- cigars
- pipe tobacco
- hand-rolling tobacco
Frequent exposure to other people’s smoke can increase your risk of lung cancer, even if you’re a non-smoker.
Passive smoking also increases your risk of other smoking-related conditions. These include:
Children and passive smoking
Breathing in secondhand smoke is particularly harmful for children. Children who breathe in secondhand smoke have an increased risk of:
- cot death (sudden infant death syndrome or SIDS) - this is twice as likely in babies whose mothers smoke
- developing asthma - smoking can also trigger asthma attacks in children who already have the condition
- serious respiratory (breathing) conditions such as bronchitis and pneumonia - younger children are also much more likely to be admitted to hospital for a serious respiratory infection
- meningitis
- coughs and colds
- middle ear disease, such as otitis media (a middle ear infection), which can cause hearing loss
Children who grow up with a parent or family member who smokes are also about twice as likely to start smoking later in life.
If you’re a parent who smokes, it will be hard to explain to your children why they shouldn’t start smoking. Try to lead by example and quit. As well as improving your heath and theirs, your children may be less likely to start smoking later in life. See below for where to get support.
Smoking and the law
In July 2007, smoking in public places, such as bars, restaurants and workplaces, was made illegal to protect non-smokers from the health risks associated with passive smoking.
Stopping smoking
The Health A-Z has information about treatment and support to quit smoking, as well as advice about self-help when you’re preparing to stop.
Your GP can also give you advice about quitting smoking and NHS stop smoking support services through Go Smokefree.
Read the answers to more questions about stopping smoking.
Further information:
