Prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among non-Hispanic Black people who do not smoke Between , prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure was higher among those who lived below the federal poverty level Disparities in Exposure Persist Depending on Occupation 5, For adults who do not smoke, the workplace remains the source of most secondhand smoke exposure. Children still have a higher prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure than adults, and most are exposed in the home.
Benefits of Comprehensive Smokefree Policies. Department of Health and Human Services. Atlanta: U. American Journal of Public Health ; 9 —13 [accessed Feb 21]. MMWR ;67 48 : [accessed Sep 8]. Washington, D. National Toxicology Program. Report on Carcinogens, Fourteenth Edition external icon. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ;59 35 —6 [accessed Feb 21]. Philip Morris et al. Preventing Chronic Disease 17 [accessed Oct 13].
However, participants alluded to several mechanisms including smell, inhaled secondhand smoke being more contaminated, and secondhand smoke containing different chemicals. Other participants indicated that inhaled secondhand smoke was more contaminated than the smoke inhaled by the person who was smoking. A participant employed as a welder used his work experience in explaining why secondhand smoke was more contaminated.
Well, I work in welding, right? A lot of the smoke. So, when the smoke comes out, sometimes I—sometimes I get a cold. Sometimes it closes my bronchial tubes. Sometimes I get a cough, sometimes my lungs hurt from all the smoke. Akin to the idea that exhaled tobacco smoke is more contaminated, a few participants noted that the exhaled smoke was chemically different from the smoke inhaled by the smoker.
One participant offered an interesting perspective on the mechanism that makes secondhand smoke more potent. If you breathe it in. More so, for him, because he inhales it so part of it goes to his lungs and part of it goes to his stomach. That you breathe it in, but he inhales it so part of it goes to his stomach, not his lungs. Only a few of the participants indicated from whom they learned that secondhand smoke was worse than primary smoking.
Most simply noted that they had heard this. Three individuals did note that their source was television. Doctors have said so. A few participants stated that they did not know the health effects of secondhand smoke. Participants commonly stated that secondhand smoke affected the lungs in some way, with a few specifying that it caused asthma.
Many participants also noted that secondhand smoke caused cancer, including lung cancer. One participant P F stated that it causes tuberculosis. Many of the participants made very general statements about how secondhand smoke affected health. It might keep in—they eliminate toxins but they give them to you—[Laughter]—in your body, right? Some of the participants emphasized smell as the cause of secondhand health effect.
And then the smell causes you to cough and a headache. When someone smokes, a lot of smoke expands everywhere and we end up smelling it. A few participants suggested that secondhand smoke carries infection or can cause an infection. Well, first, because of all the chemicals in cigarettes. Secondly, because of illnesses and infections or anything else a person can have and they exhale all that.
It can cause illness, an infection. It can cause asthma. Or something like that, you know? It depends on your organism. If your—what are they called? Those things that—I always tell my kids that their—their strong little soldiers are going to fight against the little soldiers—the good little soldiers are going to fight the bad little soldiers. So, I think it depends on their—what is it called?
It depends on how your defenses are. This participant reflected on how life experiences might limit or strengthen the health effects of secondhand smoke.
It depends on the care each one had, the life they lived, too. Participants were asked directly whether secondhand smoke was more dangerous for children than for adults. A few of the participants stated that secondhand smoke had the same effect on children and adults.
Participants described a cluster of four linked mechanisms in explaining the reason why secondhand smoke had a greater effect on the health of children over adults.
These mechanisms were 1 that children would have more years to experience exposure than would adults, 2 that they were still developing, and 3 therefore, were smaller, weaker, and had a weaker immune system. A few participants noted that children have more years to experience exposure to secondhand smoke and effects. In the long run, later in life, not at that time. Many of the participants argued that children are still developing, and are smaller and weaker than adults are, so secondhand smoke will have a greater effect on their health.
Participants were very descriptive in discussing the importance of development. Because they are more tender than we are, because they are younger. We are stronger, more mature—but they are just children. They are more prone to asthma, like I said. It would affect babies, children more. They are weaker, they are more fragile.
The child will be affected more because the child is barely developing and growing. Several participants emphasized that the potential ill effects of secondhand smoke for children result from their weaker immune systems. This is a specific component of their physical development that reflects statements about secondhand smoke causing infection.
We, as adults, we have a stronger immune system than a baby. The baby more, I think. An adult is stronger. Because each person has their own defenses. Or the wife. The same. It affects those who have less defenses, so to speak. Children and the elderly have their defenses, or those who are sick. Most of these Latinx immigrants were aware of secondhand smoke and provided accurate definitions.
They knew it was harmful to their health and believed it was more harmful to the health of children and older adults. They were not clear as to specific health effects of secondhand smoke in adults, but were clearer about the health effects for children. They were vague about how secondhand smoke affects the health of adults or children and offered some interesting lay explanations. One of the prevailing beliefs was that secondhand smoke was more harmful than actually smoking tobacco products.
At a general level, our results for Latinx immigrants are similar to other studies based on qualitative analysis [ 9 , 13 , 14 , 15 ] that report that Latinx participants know what secondhand smoke is and that secondhand smoke is harmful.
Participants discussed common mechanisms across adults and children for secondhand smoke resulting in ill health. These mechanisms involved the smell of secondhand smoke, secondhand smoke being similar to an infection and affecting the immune system, and personal strength being protective of secondhand smoke. For children, the issue of personal strength versus personal weakness incorporated the dimensions of children being weaker and more fragile, being smaller, and having weaker immune systems.
Children were also seen has having more years than adults to experience secondhand smoke exposure and to develop illness and disease. This latter point is accurate, and additional years of exposure and years for illness to develop are considered in the toxicological and developmental literature when referring to other toxicants [ 26 ].
The general belief that secondhand smoke exposure is a health hazard, but with lay explanations for how secondhand smoke affects health, is not surprising. This belief is similar to secondhand smoke knowledge among most US residents—native born or immigrants [ 27 ]. Delineating these lay understandings and explanations among Latinx immigrants is important for further health education and tobacco intervention development.
It is also important to note that these lay explanations are similar to those described for Latinx immigrant lay explanations of mechanisms for exposure to other environmental toxicants.
Quandt et al. Similarly, Rao et al. Stronger individuals would not experience green tobacco; those with poor nutrition and who consumed too much alcohol had weak systems and were susceptible to green tobacco sickness. The belief that secondhand smoke is worse than actually smoking is a novel finding of this study; we have not seen this reported elsewhere.
It is highly salient among these Mexican and Central American immigrants: participants volunteered this perspective rather than stating it in response to a leading question in the interview guide; almost two-thirds of the participants volunteered this perspective; and the participants described consistent mechanisms for why secondhand smoke was worse than primary smoking.
The mechanisms for this more potent effect of secondhand smoke over primary smoke are consistent with those for health effects, particularly the importance of smell. In addition, the participants stated the belief that the process of producing secondhand smoke made it more contaminated and that it contained different chemicals than does primary smoke. The present analysis did not find evidence of these cultural values, but issues surrounding ways to limit smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke were not discussed in these interviews.
The study was conducted in a single locale in the southeastern US, so results may not apply to other areas of the country. It recruited a purposive, nonrandom sample. The in-depth interview process results in questions being asked differently from one participant to the next, so results cannot be used to establish specific frequencies or to establish statistical associations. Mexican and Central American immigrants are generally aware of secondhand smoke and its health effects.
Most believe that secondhand smoke poses a greater health risk than primary smoking. They have a consistent lay model of mechanisms by which secondhand smoke affects the health of adults and children, with beliefs that the effects for children are greater. Fluids such as blood and urine in nonsmokers might test positive for nicotine, carbon monoxide, and formaldehyde. As the public learns more about the harmful effects of smoking, overall smoking rates continue to go down among teens and adults.
Overall, WHO estimates that 1. This is a serious health concern that can affect both adults and children who are exposed to secondhand smoke.
You might work with others who smoke around you, or you might be exposed during social or recreational events. You might also live with a family member who smokes. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at a 25—30 percent greater risk of heart disease and have a higher risk of stroke. Also, smoke exposure can make preexisting cases of high blood pressure worse.
Adults may develop asthma and have frequent respiratory illnesses. If you already have asthma , being around tobacco smoke might make your symptoms worse. Living or working with someone who smokes may increase your individual lung cancer risk by as much as 30 percent. While regular secondhand smoke exposure can lead to a variety of health issues in adults, children are even more vulnerable to the effects of being around tobacco smoke.
This is because their bodies and organs are still in developmental stages. This makes limiting associated risks even more challenging. Infants are even more vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because it can cause sudden infant death syndrome SIDS. Pregnant women who are exposed to secondhand smoke may also deliver children with low birth weights.
The WHO estimates that 65, fatalities are reported in children related to secondhand smoke. As a parent, one of the best ways you can prevent secondhand smoke exposure for your child is to quit smoking yourself. Given the numerous health effects of secondhand smoke, avoidance is increasingly being viewed as a human right.
0コメント