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Secondhand Smoke and Children
Children in Louisiana are exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke in a variety of environments. In fact, more than 294,000 Louisiana children under the age of 18 and 91,000 children under the age of five routinely share breathing space with smokers in their own homes. Secondhand smoke exposure poses a variety of health risks to children. For example:
The risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is doubled in households with a smoking parent.
Secondhand smoke causes up to two million cases of chronic middle ear infection annually.
Nationally, 436,000 cases of bronchitis and 190,000 cases of pneumonia in children under the age of five are caused by secondhand smoke each year.
Secondhand smoke increases the rates of the following illnesses among children: bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, ear infections, rhinitis, and sore throats.
Copy of Act 838 - It is illegal to smoke in a vehicle with children under the age of 13.
What is Secondhand Smoke?
Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke in the air from a burning cigarette and the smoke exhaled by a person who is smoking. Secondhand smoke is the number one source of indoor air pollution and contains nearly 5,000 chemical compounds, including arsenic, a dangerous poison; formaldehyde, which is also used in embalming fluid; and hydrogen cyanide, another toxic poison. Like asbestos, secondhand smoke has been classified as a "Class A" carcinogen, or cancer-causing substance, by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Only 13 other substances are considered as dangerous to human health.
Secondhand smoke kills 53,000 nonsmokers nationally each year, and is known to cause the following illnesses:
Lung cancer
Heart disease
Nasal sinus cancer
Respiratory disease
Bronchitis
Middle ear infections
Asthma
Pneumonia
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Smoking Facts
You can reap the benefits of quitting smoking in as little as 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes
Blood pressure and pulse rate improve to healthier levels.
After 8 hours
Carbon monoxide and oxygen levels in blood return to normal.
After 1 day
Your chance of a heart attack decreases.
After 2 days
Nerve endings regenerate; sense of smell and taste are enhanced.
After 2 weeks
Circulation improves and lung function increases.
After 1-9 months
Coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease.
After 1 year
Chance of heart attack is cut in half.
After 5 years
Stroke risk is reduced to the same levels as a non-smoker.
After 10 years
Risk of dying from lung cancer is about half that of a current smoker.
After 15 years
Risk of coronary heart disease and death is about the same as it is for those who have never smoked.
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