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Surgeon General Report on
The Health
Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke
On June 27,
2006, the Surgeon General released The Health Consequences of Involuntary
Exposure to Tobacco Smoke. This report is an evaluation and synthesis of
evidence regarding the health effects of exposure to secondhand smoke. The
six major conclusions of the latest report are as follows:
1.
Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and
in adults who do not smoke.
2.
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.
3.
Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects
on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung
cancer.
4.
The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of
exposure to secondhand smoke.
5.
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.
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.
For a complete copy of the Surgeon General's report on
second-hand smoke, go to
http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/secondhandsmoke/report/ For further information
on tobacco visit the Centers for Disease Control website at
http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/ |