The Facts
Secondhand smoke affects nonsmokers.It increases their risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, causing over 35,000 heart disease and 3,000 lung cancer deaths.
Non-smoking sections aren’t the answer! An hour in a restaurant’s non-smoking section can equal smoking a cigarette while two hours in a smoky bar is equal to smoking four cigarettes.
Children are especially at risk. Their lungs are not fully developed so they are more sensitive to secondhand smoke. Exposing children increases their risk of asthma, bronchitis and pneumonia as well as sudden infant death syndrome.
Employees are also at greater risk. For instance; food service workers have a 50% higher risk of lung cancer.
Secondhand smoke is a deadly chemical compound. It contains a mixture of more than 4,000 chemicals, more than 50 of these are known or probably human cancer causing agents.
To view more facts about tobacco use and exposure, click a Category below to display the facts for that category.Report on Secondhand Smoke Focuses on Danger to Children – U.S. Surgeon General, October 2007
Tobacco Use by Missouri Youth 2009 – Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, November 2009
Each year in Missouri, 9,900 kids under 18 become new daily smokers.
352,000 kids in Missouri are exposed to secondhand smoke at home.
There are 18.1 million packs of cigarettes bought or smoked by kids in Missouri each year.
147,751 youth now under 18 and alive in Missouri are projected to die prematurely if the smoking rate remains constant.
In 1997, one-third of high school (9-12 grade) males nationwide reported smoking cigars.
Infants and children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to develop asthma, bronchitis, middle ear infection and pneumonia.
The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke – U.S. Surgeon General, 2006
Health Risks of Smoking – Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services, August 2005
Lung cancer has now surpassed heart disease as the leading cause of smoking-related deaths among white middle class smokers.
According to a recent study, smokers have a 70 percent greater risk of suffering from hearing loss than nonsmokers.
Cigarette smoking is a major cause of heart disease among both men and women.
Smokers have twice the risk of heart attack of nonsmokers.
More than 4,000 chemicals, including 43 known carcinogens and over 400 other toxins, can be found in cigarette smoke.
Women who smoke during pregnancy significantly increase the chances that their children will suffer from neurological disorders, including motor control, perception, and attention deficit disorder.
A recent study found that children of smokers had more than 3 times the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) than children of non-smokers.
Cigar smoking causes cancer of the lung, oral cavity, larynx, esophagus, and probably cancer of the pancreas.
The amount of nicotine is generally higher in cigars than in cigarettes due to the higher pH of cigar smoke.
Secondhand smoke from cigars is more dangerous than pipe and cigarette smoke.
Cigar smoking can cause cancers of the mouth and throat, even if you do not inhale.
In the United States, a drop of 1 percent in smoking prevalence among pregnant smokers would result in 1,300 fewer low birth weight live births.
In the United States, a drop of 1 percent in the smoking prevalence would result in 924 fewer hospitalizations for heart attack.
In the United States, a drop of 1 percent in the smoking prevalence would result in 538 fewer hospitalizations for stroke.
Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined.
Secondhand smoke causes heart disease, cancer, stroke, emphysema and other debilitating diseases.
Arsenic, cyanide, formaldehyde, and radon are just some of more than 4000 chemicals found in secondhand smoke.
As little as one-half hour exposure to secondhand smoke can cause heart damage similar to that of a habitual smoker.
As little as one-half hour exposure to secondhand smoke can cause blood platelets to become sticky, which can start the process of hardening of the arteries that leads to a heart attack or stroke.
Many of the major chemicals people are worried about in the environment are found in secondhand smoke. One cigarette is like a mini-toxic waste dump in your mouth.
“If [cigarette] prices were higher, the 12-17 incidence [the percentage of kids who smoke] would be 11.9% lower,” -- R.J. Reynolds executive D.S. Burrows, Sept 20, 1982.
"If children don't like to be in a smoky room, they'll leave," [when asked about infants who can't leave a smoky room], "At some point, they begin to crawl." -- Charles Harper, R.J. Reynolds Chairman, April 18, 1996.
"There is no such thing as a safe cigarette,”-- William S Ohlemeyer Vice President and associate general counsel Philip Morris, March 22, 2002.
“…the base of our business is the high school student.” -- T.L Atchley of Lorillard Tobacco Co, August 30, 1978.
“We were targeting kids, and I said at the time it was unethical and maybe illegal, but I was told it was just company policy.” -- Terence Sullivan, sales representative for R.J. Reynolds.
“[Brown & Williamson] will not support a youth smoking program which discourages young people from smoking.” -- Tobacco Institute memo, 1983, quoted in US News & World Report, May 4, 1998.
Smoke and Money (Employer’s Toolkit) – Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services.
Missouri’s share of smoking-caused Medicaid spending rose from $80.7 million in 1993 to $182.1 million in 2001. In 2003, the expense had risen to 206 million. In 2004, the cost sky-rocketed to $490 million.
In Missouri, annual smoking related costs include about $1.97 billion for direct health care expenditures, over $310 per Missourian
In Missouri, annual smoking related costs include about $2.4 billion for lost productivity costs.
Smoking related economic expenditures cost each Missouri household $597 each year.
Health related costs due to smoking during pregnancy costs Missourians approximately $15.8 million and affects over 13,800 births each year.
Cigarette companies spend approximately $337.8 million, almost $40 per Missourian, each year marketing their products to Missourians.
Attributable productivity costs to the state of Missouri in 2000 due to smoking exceeded $2.3 billion.
Missouri excise tax for a pack of cigarettes is 17¢.
Missouri cigarette excise tax is lower than any neighboring states.
Each pack of cigarettes sold in the United States costs our nation approximately $7.18 that is $3.45 per pack in smoking related diseases and $3.73 per pack in job productivity lost because of premature death from smoking.
In the United States, a drop of 1 percent in the smoking prevalence among pregnant smokers would save $21 million dollars in direct medical costs.
A National Cancer Institute expert panel reported in 1993 that “a substantial increase in cigarette excise taxes may be the single most effective measure for decreasing tobacco consumption.”
In the United States, a drop of 1 percent in the smoking prevalence would save over $44 million dollars.