Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is also known as Environmental Tobacco Smoke. Secondhand smoke includes both exhaled mainstream smoke from smokers and sidestream smoke from the end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 substances, including over 40 that are linked to cancer. Many of the compounds in tobacco smoke are released at higher rates in sidestream smoke than in mainstream smoke.

Secondhand smoke may trigger asthma episodes and make asthma symptoms more severe in children who already have asthma. Moreover, secondhand smoke is a risk factor for new cases of asthma in children.

It is believed that secondhand smoke triggers an asthma episode by irritating the chronically inflamed bronchial passages of asthmatics. This is a different pathway from most of the other environmental triggers, like dust mites and pet dander, which trigger asthma episodes through allergenic effects.

Exposure to secondhand smoke is known to cause a variety of negative health con-
sequences, including lung cancer, ear infections in children, and respiratory illnesses.

Many of the health effects of secondhand smoke (including asthma) are most clearly manifested in children, who are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke. This is due to the fact that children are still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults, and have little control over their indoor environments.

Children receiving high doses of secondhand smoke, such as those with smoking mothers, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects.

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Ozone

When inhaled, ozone can aggravate the lungs and can lead to chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and, throat irritation. Ozone may also worsen chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and compromise the ability of the body to fight respiratory infections.

On days when ozone air pollution is the highest, ozone air pollution has been associated with as much as ten percent (10%) to twenty percent (20%) of all summertime respiratory hospital visits and admissions.

People vary widely in their susceptibility to ozone. Healthy people, as well as those with respiratory difficulty, can experience breathing problems when exposed to ozone. Exercise during exposure to ozone causes a greater amount of ozone to be inhaled, and increases the risk of harmful respiratory effects.

State agencies will use television and radio to notify citizens of ozone alerts. On an "Ozone Action Day," people with asthma should limit prolonged physical activity outdoors.  Consider adjusting outdoor activities to early morning or late evening.

Also, on an "Ozone Action Day," you can do the following 10 things to help keep ozone formation to a minimum:

• Instead of driving, share a ride, walk, bike, or take public transportation.
• If you must drive, avoid excessive idling and jackrabbit starts. Don't refuel your car, or only do so after 7 p.m.
• Avoid using outboard motors, off-road vehicles, or other gasoline powered recreational vehicles.
• Defer mowing your lawn until late evening or the next day. Also avoid using gasoline-powered garden equipment.
• Postpone chores that use oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes.
• If you are barbecuing, use an electric starter instead of charcoal lighter fluid.
• Limit or postpone household chores that involve use of consumer products.
• Conserve energy in your home to reduce energy needs.

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