Passive smoking may be defined as the involuntary inhalation of smoke emanating from lit cigarettes. Secondary smoke, second-hand smoke and environmental tobacco smoke; all mean the same thing i.e., the involuntary or forced inhalation of cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke contains in it more than 4000 chemicals of which around 50 or so have got the potential to cause cancer in humans. These chemicals include numerous hydro-carbons and substances like arsenic. In the case of small children, there is practically no choice other than to inhale this smoke when they have to travel in public. Estimates suggest that more than 800 million children in different parts of the world are exposed to second hand smoke. This is apart from the 1.3 billion smokers who automatically inhale the fumes while they smoke. Even though one of the reports indicates that adult smoking figures have come down by 20 percent, passive tobacco smoking poses significant health risks to young children.
Parents need to be made aware of the risks of smoking inside one's house when their young children are there playing around. Public awareness efforts have gained momentum and these movements are aimed at preventing children's exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. A study conducted by the World Health Organization stated that passive smoking is the main cause of bronchitis, asthma attacks, pneumonia and cot death in children. Other problems comprise coughing, wheezing, middle ear infection and some cardiovascular and neurobiological disparities and impairment. A report from South East Asia concluded that those children living in houses where there are more than two persons who are in the habit of smoking are 40 percent more likely to undergo treatment for some bronchial diseases than those living in a ‘non-smoking' house. The reports have also found that tobacco smoke has a very injurious effect on children of all age groups; these reports affirm that asthma is very much prevalent in such households.
An increasing number of new cases of asthma are attributed to passive smoking alone in the UK. Tobacco smoke exposure has a direct correlation with increased occurrences of meningitis, mental impairment, autism and poor functioning of the faculties of smell and taste. Links have also been found between childhood exposure to second-hand smoke and occurrence of cancer in later life. A Norwegian research team found that people who had been continuously exposed to cigarettes during their childhood days registered poor attendance levels while at work. Nonetheless, the specific risks that aggravate due to passive smoking are not recognized by smokers.
In an earnest attempt to protect their children, there are a lot of aspects that parent should take care of so that they can minimise their children's frequent exposure to tobacco smoke. Parents who are in the habit of smoking should do it only outside the house. They should make it a point never to smoke in their child's bedroom and by all means should not allow others to smoke there. Smokers have to ensure that they do not smoke while playing with children.
Parents need to be made aware of the risks of smoking inside one's house when their young children are there playing around. Public awareness efforts have gained momentum and these movements are aimed at preventing children's exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. A study conducted by the World Health Organization stated that passive smoking is the main cause of bronchitis, asthma attacks, pneumonia and cot death in children. Other problems comprise coughing, wheezing, middle ear infection and some cardiovascular and neurobiological disparities and impairment. A report from South East Asia concluded that those children living in houses where there are more than two persons who are in the habit of smoking are 40 percent more likely to undergo treatment for some bronchial diseases than those living in a ‘non-smoking' house. The reports have also found that tobacco smoke has a very injurious effect on children of all age groups; these reports affirm that asthma is very much prevalent in such households.
An increasing number of new cases of asthma are attributed to passive smoking alone in the UK. Tobacco smoke exposure has a direct correlation with increased occurrences of meningitis, mental impairment, autism and poor functioning of the faculties of smell and taste. Links have also been found between childhood exposure to second-hand smoke and occurrence of cancer in later life. A Norwegian research team found that people who had been continuously exposed to cigarettes during their childhood days registered poor attendance levels while at work. Nonetheless, the specific risks that aggravate due to passive smoking are not recognized by smokers.
In an earnest attempt to protect their children, there are a lot of aspects that parent should take care of so that they can minimise their children's frequent exposure to tobacco smoke. Parents who are in the habit of smoking should do it only outside the house. They should make it a point never to smoke in their child's bedroom and by all means should not allow others to smoke there. Smokers have to ensure that they do not smoke while playing with children.