It is now clear that tobacco is linked with many health problems in addition to lung disease and cancer. As our knowledge about the health consequences of smoking grows, these health concerns have also been extended to the innocent bystanders (those who regularly encounter secondhand smoke).
Secondhand smoke has been associated with many of the same health problems as smoking: respiratory problems, lung cancer, and cardiovascular and heart disease.
Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is the smoke from the burning tobacco and the smoke exhaled by the smoker. Harmful chemicals, including toxins and carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) are released in the air from the burning end of a lit cigarette. These airborne chemicals, mixed with the smoke exhaled by the smoker, create a toxic environment for anyone in close proximity to the smoker.
The December 9, 1998, issue of JAMA (Eisner et al) reports on the observable health benefits to bartenders from a new California law that prohibits smoking in bars. The law provided a smoke-free environment for a profession traditionally exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke. The researchers found that the bartenders in the study were reporting improved respiratory health and had improved lung function only 2 months after the new program took effect.
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