The Florida Department of Health in Pasco County and Tobacco Free Florida are working together to reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, according to a news release.
Most people are aware of the dangers associated with using tobacco products like cigarettes, but may not be as familiar with the dangers posed by secondhand smoke.
Here are some facts about secondhand smoke:
- It poses dangers whether you’re in confined spaces or outdoors.
- It contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which at least 250 are toxic and around 70 can cause cancer.
Secondhand smoke is known as environmental tobacco smoke. It includes smoke that is exhaled by a smoker, and also smoke that comes directly from a burning tobacco product, according to the release.
For people with a heart condition, being exposed to secondhand smoke can even trigger a heart attack, the release adds.
When a nonsmoker is exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work, their risk of developing a heart condition increases by 25 percent to 30 percent.
Wait staff and diners on a patio who are exposed to secondhand smoke for long periods of time are at risk of being exposed to fine particulate matter pollution at levels that exceeded the Environmental Protection Agency limit.
Published April 3, 2019
