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Surgeon General's Report
“Despite the great progress that has been made, involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke remains a serious public health hazard that can be prevented by making homes, workplaces, and public places completely smoke-free.”
Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.S., Surgeon General
A 2006 report by the Surgeon General, The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke, reached six major conclusions:
1. Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
2. Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke.
3. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
4. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
5. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
6. Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.
Find out more in the Executive Summary or read the full report.
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Links
Surgeon General's Report
The full report from the Surgeon General on the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Documents
Executive Summary
File Size: 424.27 kb
A summary of the Surgeon General's report on involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke.
Surgeon General Summary slide show
File Size: 4293.5 kb
This slide show summarizes the Surgeon General's findings on the dangers of secondhand smoke.
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