Creating SmokeFree Homes and

Cars for Kids

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Topics
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What is Secondhand Smoke (SHS)

What is the Problem
The Dangers of SHS Exposure
Why Kids are More Susceptible
Health Risks to Kids
Pregnancy and SHS
Solutions for Protecting Kids

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is Secondhand
Smoke (SHS)
A combination of the smoke
emitted by the burning
end of a cigarette, cigar
or pipe and the smoke
exhaled by the lungs of
the smoker.1

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is Secondhand
Smoke (SHS)
SHS has higher concentrations
of many of the toxins found in
inhaled cigarette smoke.1
SHS contains more than 4,000
chemicals, at least 250 of
which are toxic, and more
than 50 of which can cause
cancer!1
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is Secondhand
Smoke (SHS)
Chemicals, gases, and metals in cigarette smoke
that are inhaled by smokers and non-smokers
alike:2
Metals: aluminum, titanium, lead
Acetone nail polish
Ammonia floor/toilet cleaner
Arsenic poison used in pesticides
Carbon monoxide car exhaust fumes
Chromium VI pigments for dyes, inks
Ethanol alcohol
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is Secondhand
Smoke (SHS)
AND
Formaldehyde preserver of body tissue
Benzene industrial solvent
Hydrogen cyanide gas chamber
poison, chemical weapons
Methanol rocket fuel
Nitrobenzene gasoline additive
Polonium 210 chemical element
that gives off radiation
Cancer Causing Agents: urethane,
nickel, cadmium
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem?

The Environmental Protection Agency has
classified SHS as a Group A carcinogen
one of the most dangerous substances
known to cause cancer.3
In 2006, the California Environmental
Protection Agencys Air Resources Board
designated SHS a Toxic Air Contaminant, an
airborne toxic substance that may cause
and/or contribute to death or serious
illness.4
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem?

The U.S. Surgeon Generals
2006 report on secondhand
smoke concluded that
secondhand smoke causes
disease and premature
death in nonsmoking
adults and children.5

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem

2006 Report by the Surgeon General5
There is no risk-free level of
exposure to secondhand smoke.
Breathing even a little secondhand
smoke poses a risk to your health.
Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and
ventilating buildings cannot
eliminate secondhand smoke
exposure.
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem

2006 Report by the Surgeon General 5
60 percent of nonsmokers have
biological evidence of exposure.
Adult exposure is decreasing due to
workplace laws, but children are
still exposed at home.
Children show levels of exposure
more than twice those of adults.
An estimated 22 percent of children (60
million) are exposed in their homes.
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem

Parents are responsible
for 90 percent of
childrens exposure to
secondhand smoke.6
It takes up to three
hours for the smoke from
one cigarette to clear
from an average sized
room.7
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

What is the Problem

Even after the smoke is gone,
toxic residue remains on the
carpet, walls and on objects.
Children may absorb these
toxins.8
Smoking in cars, even with
the windows open, can
produce smoke pollution that
compares with smoky bars .9
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Dangers of SHS
Exposure
Kills more than 50,000 nonsmokers each
year,10 about the same number of Americans
as die from murder, drugs, and AIDS
combined11
Causes more than 3,000 lung cancer
deaths and more than 45,000 heart attack
deaths in NON-SMOKING adults each year4
A nonsmoker exposed to SHS at work or
home increases their risk of heart disease
by 25-30%, and lung cancer by 20-30% 12

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Dangers of SHS
Exposure
Normally, tiny little hairs
called cilia expel toxins
and mucus from the
lungs. Tobacco smoke
damages the cilia,
leading to a buildup of
bacteria and an increased
number of infections.
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Why Kids are More

Susceptible
Kids are Especially Susceptible!
Children breath at a faster rate than adults,
inhaling more air.
Childrens bodies are smaller than adults, and
their immune systems are less developed.
Often children cant escape smoky
environments.
Kids can inhale the equivalent of 102 packs
of cigarettes by age 5.13
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Health Risks to Kids

Increased risk for bronchitis,
pneumonia, colds, and other
respiratory infections3,5
twice as likely to suffer from acute
lower respiratory disease14

Greater risk of middle ear

infections3,5
greater likelihood of needing tubes in
their ears and losing their hearing
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Health Risks to Kids

Asthma:
Can cause new cases of asthma3,5
Can trigger attacks, and make
attacks more severe3,5
400,000 to 1 million US children
have their asthma worsened by
exposure to SHS16
Asthma is the 3rd leading cause of
hospitalization for kids under 1517
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Health Risks to Kids

Reduced lung development and
capacity3,5
coughing, wheezing, breathlessness

Increased risk of Sudden Infant

Death Syndrome (SIDS)3,5
May increase risk of leukemia,
lymphoma, and brain tumors in
children5
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Health Risks to Kids

Increased risk of contracting
cancer later in life15
Higher rates of school
absenteeism nationwide20
Impaired learning ability: lower
scores on reading, math, logic &
reasoning tests21
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Pregnancy and
Secondhand Smoke
Dangers of secondhand smoke and
smoking during pregnancy:
Higher rates of Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome (SIDS)5,22
Low birth weight and development issues5
Low birth weight is the second leading cause of
infant death23

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Pregnancy and
Secondhand Smoke
Increased chance of miscarriage and
stillbirth5
Increased risk of premature birth5
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD)24
Weaker lungs, which increases
risk for many health problems5

the

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
What can you do?
Dont smoke in your home
and car and dont let others to
do so when children are
present.
Never smoke around a
pregnant woman and if youre
pregnant, dont smoke.
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
Tell guests that you dont allow
smoking inside because you want to
protect your family.
Make gum or mints available as an
alternative for guests who smoke.
Place a chair, table and ashtray
outside to make guests feel more
comfortable smoking there.

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
Post no smoking signs in your home
and car to let people know about
your decision to make these places
smoke-free.
If someone in your household
smokes, be understanding, but
encourage him or her to quit or
smoke outside. Let them know that
cigarette smoke affects everyone, not
just the smoker. Let them know you
want to help.
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
Dont allow babysitters or
other people who work in your
home to smoke around you or
your children.
Find out about the smoking
policies of the day care
providers, pre-schools,
schools and other care-givers
for your children.

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
Help other parents understand the
serious health risks to children from
secondhand smoke.
Work with parent/teacher
associations, your child board and
school administrators, community
leaders, and other concerned
citizens to make your childs
environment smoke-free.

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

Solutions for
Protecting Kids
The best thing you can do for your
childrens health is quit smoking
California Smokers Helpline
1.800.NO.BUTTS

www.nobutts.org

US Dept. of Health and Human Services

1.800.QUITNOW

1800quitnow.cancer.gov

Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)

For more
information contact:
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling
Secondhand Smoke
www.kiiss.org
Funding provided by:
First 5 Placer - Children &
Families Commission
www.placer.ca.gov/cfc
Kids Involuntarily Inhaling Secondhand Smoke (KIISS)