Secondhand SmokeSecondhand SmokeA Health Hazard to ChildrenA Health Hazard to Children

Environmental Protection

Agency

American Academy of Pediatrics

• 38 percent of children aged 2 months to 5 38 percent of children aged 2 months to 5 years are exposed to secondhand smoke years are exposed to secondhand smoke in the home.in the home.

Source: CDC

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand Smoke

• Up to 2,000,000 ear infections each yearUp to 2,000,000 ear infections each year• Nearly 530,000 doctor visits for asthmaNearly 530,000 doctor visits for asthma• Up to 436,000 episodes of bronchitis in Up to 436,000 episodes of bronchitis in

children under fivechildren under five• Up to 190,000 cases of pneumonia in Up to 190,000 cases of pneumonia in

children under fivechildren under five

Source: Pediatrics

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand Smoke

• Smoke breathed out by a smokerSmoke breathed out by a smoker• Smoke from the burning end of Smoke from the burning end of

cigarettes, cigars, pipescigarettes, cigars, pipes• Composed of nearly 4,000 different Composed of nearly 4,000 different

chemicals and chemical compoundschemicals and chemical compounds• Benzene, nickel, carbon monoxide, Benzene, nickel, carbon monoxide,

ammonia and cyanideammonia and cyanide

Source: National Research Council

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand Smoke

• MiscarriageMiscarriage

• PrematurityPrematurity

• Low birth weightLow birth weight

• Sudden infant death syndrome Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)(SIDS)

Source: AAP

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand Smoke

• More upper respiratory infectionsMore upper respiratory infections

• More bronchitis and pneumoniaMore bronchitis and pneumonia

• More ear infections and hearing More ear infections and hearing problemsproblems

• Higher rate of SIDSHigher rate of SIDS

• More cases of asthmaMore cases of asthma

• More severe symptoms in children More severe symptoms in children who already have asthmawho already have asthma

Source: AAP

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand Smoke

• Coughing and wheezingCoughing and wheezing

• Sore throats and coldsSore throats and colds

• Eye irritationEye irritation

• HoarsenessHoarseness

• Infants whose mothers smoked were 38 Infants whose mothers smoked were 38 percent more likely to be admitted to the percent more likely to be admitted to the hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia.hospital for bronchitis and pneumonia.

Source: Lancet

• Children younger than one Children younger than one year whose mothers year whose mothers smoked were almost four smoked were almost four times as likely to be times as likely to be hospitalized.hospitalized.

Source: Acta Paediatr Scand

• Infants with two Infants with two parents who smoke parents who smoke were more than were more than twice as likely to twice as likely to have had have had pneumonia and pneumonia and bronchitis.bronchitis.

Source: Lancet

• Children living in households where more than Children living in households where more than three packs of cigarettes were smoked per day three packs of cigarettes were smoked per day were more than four times as likely to be were more than four times as likely to be hospitalized for placement of ear tubes.hospitalized for placement of ear tubes.

Source: JAMA

AsthmaAsthma

• One out of thirteen One out of thirteen children has asthmachildren has asthma

• Asthma is a chronic Asthma is a chronic disease of the disease of the passageways that passageways that carry air to the lungscarry air to the lungs

• Asthma causes Asthma causes labored breathing, labored breathing, shortness of breathshortness of breath

Indoor Asthma TriggersIndoor Asthma Triggers

• Secondhand smokeSecondhand smoke• Dust mitesDust mites• Animal danderAnimal dander• CockroachesCockroaches• MoldMold

Pledge to keep a Smoke-Free HomePledge to keep a Smoke-Free Home

• Choose not to smoke in your homeChoose not to smoke in your home• Don’t allow others to smoke in your Don’t allow others to smoke in your

homehome• Don’t allow smoking in your carDon’t allow smoking in your car• Choose a smoke-free child care providerChoose a smoke-free child care provider• Until you can quit, smoke outsideUntil you can quit, smoke outside

Secondhand SmokeSecondhand SmokeA Health Hazard to ChildrenA Health Hazard to Children

• To take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge call To take the Smoke-Free Home Pledge call 1-800-513-1157.1-800-513-1157.

• EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Information EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Information Clearinghouse 1-800-438-4318.Clearinghouse 1-800-438-4318.

• EPA’s Secondhand Smoke Website – EPA’s Secondhand Smoke Website – www.epa.gov/iaq/etswww.epa.gov/iaq/ets