Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a leading cause of lung cancer according to latest research. It is a disturbing revelation as it indicates that people who do not smoke can also be victims of lung cancer thanks to the SHS released by smokers.

1. Secondhand Smoke
Leading to Cancer

2. Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a leading cause of lung
cancer according to latest research.
It is a disturbing revelation as it indicates that people
who do not smoke can also be victims of lung cancer
thanks to the SHS released by smokers.

3. SHS can be classified into two
types, side stream smoke
which comes out of the end of
a lighted cigarette, cigar or
smoking pipe and the other is
mainstream smoke that the
smoker releases into the air.
Both these kinds of smoke are
harmful for anyone inhaling
them as it leads to cancer.

4. Although both the kinds of smoke
cause cancer risk, the
carcinogens present in side
stream smoke is in much higher
concentration and is therefore
more toxic.
The particles in side stream
smoke are much smaller than
those present in mainstream
smoke, thus making it easy for
them to make way into the lung
cells resulting in tumor.

5. There are instances of non-smokers suffering from
lung cancer, this is because they are exposed to the
SHS and such people are termed as passive smokers or
involuntary smokers.
According to the classification by US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency
for Cancer Research, SHS is termed as a ‘known
human carcinogen’.

6. Amongst 7,000 chemical compounds present in a
cigarette, nearly 250 chemicals have known harmful
effects while more than 70 are carcinogenic. This
includes chemicals such as benzene, arsenic,
formaldehyde, vinyl chloride and nickel etc.
According to statistics, out of all the lung cancer
deaths in USA, nearly 50,000 are caused due to lung
cancer acquired due to secondhand smoking. The
risk of developing lung cancer increases by 20 to 30
percent amongst those who are living with a smoker.

7. Researchers are of the opinion that those people who
are exposed to the secondhand smoke even briefly are
at the risk of developing lung cancer.
For passive smokers it is a dangerous situation as even
though they are not indulging in smoking they are
exposed to the risk involuntarily. Kids living with
parents who smoke are at a high risk of developing
lung cancer and other medical conditions.

8. Taking Action
Doctors suggest that there is no safe amount of
exposure to SHS that can prevent lung cancer
incidence; thus it is important that the body is, not
exposed secondhand smoke at all.
This can be done only if preventive measures are
taken not just by the government but also on a
personal level.

9. Government as well as nongovernmental organizations
needs to take initiatives and
steps to convince smokers to
give up smoking and make
them aware of its harmful
effects of smoking not just to
their body but also to those
present around them.
Similarly, families with children
at home should ensure that
none of the family members
indulge in smoking as it will
invariably lead to health
complications.

10. At an individual level, smokers need to take initiative
and quit smoking so that they do not harm
themselves as well as those living around them.
There are many programs to help quit smoking which
are easily accessible for smokers and are also highly
effective.