New Research Examines the Risk of Second-Hand Smoke

It has long been known that second-hand smoke is dangerous in an indoor setting, but prior to recent studies, little was known about the risks of second-hand smoke in an outdoor setting.

Surgeon General's Report Lists the Risk of Carcinogens in Second-Hand Smoke

A 2006 U.S. Surgeon General's report claims second-hand smoke kills tens of thousands of individuals each year. Second-hand smoke can be dangerous in indoor exposure. And according to recent research at Stanford University, it has also been found that smoking can affect the quality of air in an outdoor setting, such as at a park bench. The study found that by sitting a few feet down-wind from a smoker, second-hand smoke could expose someone to contaminated fumes that are much more concentrated than normal air pollution levels.

Stanford Researchers Examine Second-Hand Smoke Risks

Stanford researchers used portable electronic monitors to measure toxic airborne particles. These instruments detect hazardous articles known as Particulate Matter 2.5, also called PM2.5. These toxic pollutants contain carcinogens and other particles which could contribute to chronic bronchitis, irregular heartbeat, heart attacks and an assortment of other health conditions. The outcome of the study found that the closer you are to second-hand smoke, the higher you are to hazardous inhalation conditions, even in an outdoor setting.

Brief exposures - multiple times over several hours in an outdoor environment could lead to a daily average of thirty-five micrograms of PM2.5 exposure. Someone in close proximity to a smoker could potentially inhale a breathe of one thousand micrograms which is fifty times more concentrated than the surrounding air.

Researchers warn that although second-hand smoke dissipates quickly, non-smokers should still be aware of their exposure and its risks.