BreatheND : Helping North Dakota break through the smoke cloud : Dangers of Secondhand Smoke : Cancer

nd.gov - The Official Portal for North Dakota State Government

Surgeon General's Report

Tobacco's Toll in North Dakota

Cancer

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in the US. Among cancer deaths, lung cancer is the number one killer of both men and women. More women die from lung cancer than breast cancer.

Secondhand smoke contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals. Nonsmokers in a smoky environment are breathing in many of the same toxins as smokers. The longer the duration and the heavier the smoke, the greater the risk. Nonsmokers who are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of developing lung cancer. Every year in the US, approximately 3,000 nonsmokers die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.

Links

American Cancer Society