Some Facts about Second-Hand Smoke

• Second-hand smoke can remain in the home through contaminated dust and surfaces, even if smoking took place days, weeks and months earlier.
   

• Many studies confirm that opening a window, smoking in another room, or using an air purifier are not effective ways to remove second-hand smoke.
   

• Second-hand smoke in a vehicle can be 23 times more toxic than in a house because of the smaller space.  Rolling down the window does not significantly decrease your exposure to second-hand smoke.
   

• Babies exposed to second-hand smoke are more likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), also known as crib death. If you or your spouse is pregnant, or you are thinking of having a baby, quitting smoking and limiting second-hand smoke exposure are important things to do.
   

• Pipe smoke is as bad as cigarette smoke, and cigar smoke is worse. 
   

• Second-hand smoke has twice as much nicotine and tar compared to the smoke that the smoker inhales. 
   

• Second-hand smoke causes between 1,100 – 7,800 deaths per year in Canada.  At least one third of the deaths are in Ontario.
   

• If you are a non-smoker, exposure to second-hand smoke increases your risk of developing either lung cancer or heart disease by 20%.