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.

New Studies Confirm and Extend Known Health Risks of Smoking

In spite of the fact that the dangers of smoking and tobacco use are now well-known, millions of men and women continue to use these products on a daily basis. In the United States alone, it is estimated that nearly 50 million people -- 20% of the entire adult population -- continue to smoke cigarettes on an ongoing basis. In some areas of the world, particularly in developing nations, smoking is even more prevalent.

Once seen as a glamorous and largely harmless hobby, cigarette use is now regarded as a dangerous habit. Over the course of the last several decades, the health risks and adverse outcomes associated with smoking have been well-documented in the scientific literature. Among other alarming statistics, it has been found that up to 88% of all cases of lung cancer can be linked to cigarette use. In addition, a host of other health problems have also been associated with smoking, including heart disease, stroke, and cataracts.

Recently, researchers have begun to focus more on the effects cigarette smoke has upon non-smokers. This week brings a number of significant studies that explore further details about the health impact of second-hand smoke. In addition, one groundbreaking study focused on the mental -- rather than the physical -- consequences of persistent smoking.

Cigarette Use Linked to Asthma Epidemic in Children

Over the course of the twentieth century, the rate at which asthma was diagnosed among children skyrocketed. Researchers have posited a number of possible environmental causes for this trend, including pollution, pesticide use, and plummeting air quality. A recent study conducted by researchers at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University suggests that exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke may be one of the chief culprits in the staggering rise of childhood asthma.

According to the research team, some of the toxins that can be found in second-hand smoke are actually more dangerous when inhaled by bystanders than when they are inhaled by the smokers themselves, including carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Because children have smaller, narrower respiratory systems and breathe more frequently than their adult counterparts, they are impacted by second-hand smoke even more intensely.

The study found that children who were regularly exposed to cigarette smoke in the home environment were 63% more likely to develop asthma than children from non-smoking homes. Although overall smoking rates have declined in recent years, the researchers stated that the long-term health impacts of second-hand smoke are only now beginning to be revealed.

Smoking Outside Does Not Alleviate the Risks of Second-Hand Smoke

Across the country, many states and municipalities have enacted bans against indoor smoking in all public buildings and retail establishments. Courts have held that non-smokers? right not to be harmed by second-hand smoke in public places is more compelling than smokers? right to smoke in public.

This trend has sent millions of smokers outdoors, seeking asylum from these stringent regulations and looking for a place to take a cigarette break. The widespread assumption has long been that smoking outside alleviates much of the health risks associated with second-hand smoke, as it is often believed that the combined effect of fresh air and breezes, paired with a lack of enclosed spaces, lessens the harm of second-hand smoke exposure.

However, the findings of a recent study conducted by a team of University of Georgia researchers call these long-held assumptions into question. According to their data, large groups of smokers congregating near an intersection increased the level of inhaled carbon monoxide and other toxins even more significantly than an increase in passing automobiles did. The findings suggest that allowing outdoor smoking may not be the best way to reduce the public health risk of second-hand smoke exposure.

Finnish Study Gauges Mental Health Risks of Smoking

The physical health risks of cigarette use are now well-known, but we know less about the potential mental, cognitive, and emotional consequences of the habit. A large-scale study conducted by researchers in Finland compared the mental health of smokers and non-smokers, garnering a number of significant and surprising results.

Most notably, the researchers found that smokers have an increased overall risk of depression in comparison to non-smokers. In addition, it was found that smokers in the process of quitting were at substantial risk for developing depression. However, in the long-term, smokers who had successfully quit saw their depression risk normalize to the level of those individuals who had never smoked. These results provide yet another persuasive reason to avoid the negative health effects of cigarette use.

If you are a smoker, researchers say that the single best thing to do to improve your health status is to quit. It?s never too late to increase your quality of life and regain control over your health. Watch this space for future updates on smoking cessation and other health science news that matters to you!