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According the Centers for Disease Control tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States today. More people die from tobacco related illnesses than illegal drugs, car accidents and murders combined. Unfortunately you don’t have to be the one with the addictive habit to be affected by these statistics.
The Surgeon General first identified secondhand smoke (also known as ETS or environmental tobacco smoke) as a health risk in 1972. It has been an uphill battle to limit involuntary exposure to ETS ever since.
Containing over 4000 compounds, ETA is classified as a “Group A” carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This means it is a substance known to cause cancer in humans. It is estimated that secondhand smoke causes 3000 cases of lung cancer a year in people that do not smoke.
Aside from cancer, secondhand smoke has other health effects. It can cause low birth weight in infants (even if the pregnant woman is not the one smoking). Infants exposed to smoke daily while in the womb are also at a higher risk for death and disease in infancy and early childhood than those not exposed. Children exposed to maternal smoking are also at a higher risk of dying of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The danger of secondhand smoke does not stop with infancy. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children of smokers are more likely to have respiratory irritation and recurrent ear infections. They have a higher incidence of bronchitis and pneumonia. And children of smokers are more likely to become asthmatic than children of non-smokers. They are more likely to have hearing problems and develop childhood and adult cancers. According to a report put out by the Environmental Protection Agency, children of smokers also have a decrease in lung function. Passive smokers are also at an increased risk of coronary heart disease according to the Committee on Environmental Health. This is thought to be due to the fact that people exposed to ETS on a regular basis have higher cholesterol levels.
One of the most important things a parent can do for his or her child is to quit smoking. Aside from the detrimental effects of secondhand smoke, children of smokers are more likely to become smokers themselves increasing their chances of joining the estimated 450,000 people who die each year in the United States due to tobacco related illnesses. According to the Centers for Disease Control the average smoker loses twelve years from his or her life. Smoking is also considered a ‘gateway’ drug to alcohol, and illegal drugs. If you can keep your child from lighting up, you might also keep him or her drug-free.
If you cannot or will not quit, do try to limit your child’s exposure to secondhand smoke. Always smoke outside. If it’s cold, set up an area (safe from flammable materials, of course) in your garage or some other area that does not share ventilation with the rest of the house. Buy an air cleaner and change the filters often. Never smoke in the car with a child.
One of the risk factors for a child picking up the habit is the perception that a lot of people smoke. A study at Penn State University found that 80% of children surveyed thought that over half the population smokes. Only about 25% of adults smoke in this country. Try to leave your child with the impression that few people smoke. Set a good example. Become a closet smoker and limit smoking in front of children. Keep cigarettes and lighters out of sight. Ask others not to smoke in front of your children.
Avoid frequenting areas where there is a lot of smoke. Do not leave your child with a babysitter that smokes or a daycare that allows smoking on the premises.
Talk with your child about tobacco and addiction. Make sure they know that if they start smoking, it’s very difficult to stop. Encourage your child to ask questions and keep the lines of communication open.
There are many web sites dedicated to education on tobacco and secondhand smoke.
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