Second Hand Smoke
Takeesha Kelley
HCS/457
July 24, 2014
BEVERLY GREEN-RASHAD

Second Hand Smoke
In the United States many Americans are familiar with the term second hand smoke. The term second hand smoke is a combination of gases and fine particles of burning tobacco such as cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco also known as side stream smoke. Second hand smoke consist of exhale tobacco particulars from the original person or people smoking the tobacco product this is known as mainstream smoke according to the CDC. The side stream tobacco smoke contains toughly 7,000 different chemicals that can be harmful to a nonsmoker and a estimate 70% of those chemicals can lead to cancer. Side stream smoke has a higher concentration of cancer causing agents known as carcinogens. This type of chemicals can deadly to non-smokers when the levels of second hand smoke is consume over a period of time.
Second hand smoke has been associated with lung cancer and some studies have link second hand smoke to breast cancer. Researchers have shown second hand smoke may be linked to lymphoma, leukemia, and brain tumors in children. In the year 2009 parents who were associated with second hand smoke during their pregnancy were link to a rare form of cancer starting in the uterus. The chemicals in second hand smoke showed an increase in breast cancer. Asthma related symptoms such as bronchitis and respiratory infection were link to second hand smoke in non-smokers.
Second hand smoker occurs in numerous places that affect non-smokers such as the home, workplaces, casino, bars, and automobiles. The workplace is where the major of nonsmokers come in contact with second hand smoke. According to "American Cancer Society" (2014), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the federal agency is responsible for health and safety in the workplace, OSHA is troubled about second hand smoke and the cancer-causing agent in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and OSHA recognize there are not any safe levels of second hand smoke, and recommend that exposures be reduced to the lowest possible levels. SHS in the workplace has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer among adult non-smokers. The Surgeon General stated that smoke-free workplace policies are the only way to prevent second hand smoke exposure at work. Separating smokers from non-smokers, purifying the air, and ventilating the building cannot discontinue exposure if people still smoke inside the building. An extra bonus, other than protecting non-smokers, restricting smoking in the workplace optimistically will encourage smokers to smoke less, or even quit.
The surgeon general recommends making the home a smoke-free environment. The home is the most important places to make smoke-free for the health of the family. The Generals states that any families’ of any age who comes in contact with second hand smoke can be harmful especially in young children. The effects of second hand smoke in children can cause asthma, lung infections, and ear infections. A smoke free home can reduce and protect the family against chemicals in second hand smoke.
American spends an excessive amount of time in his or her vehicle. Second hand smoke in a enclose vehicle can build up the toxins in the car three times higher stimulating hazardous gases in the air for the passengers in car. In the year of 2006 several communities, the states of Louisiana, California, Maine, and Oregon impress laws preventing smoking while carrying passenger under certain age limits. The states of Louisiana pass a law in August of 2006 for no smoking for passengers under the age of 13 According to "American for Non-Smokers Rights" (2014).
Local, state, and federal authorities have endorsed public policies to protect people from secondhand smoke (SHS) and protect children from tobacco-related diseases and infatuation. Currently there are not any safe levels of second hand smoke, it is imperative that policies be as strong as possible, and that they do not prevent action at other levels of government.
US local and state governments, and even federal governments in other countries, have decided that protecting the health of employees and others in public places is of the utmost importance. Different states have passed clean indoor air laws. Although the laws vary from state to state, they are becoming more common. Detailed information on smoking restrictions in each state is available from the American Lung Association.
In conclusion I agree with the laws that have been establishing against second hand smoke. For 2020, the goal is to reduce the proportion of people exposed to secondhand smoke by 10 percent. To assist with achieving this goal, Healthy People 2020 includes ideas for community interventions, such as encouraging the introduction of smoke-free policies in workplaces and other public areas.

References
American Cancer Society (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/tobaccocancer/secondhand-smoke
American for non-smokers rights. (2014). Retrieved from http://no-smoke.org
Center for disease control and prevention on second hand smoke (2014). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/secondhand_smoke/general_facts/index.htm