The Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke

Name: _________________________________       Date: _____________

The single most important thing you can do to lower your chances of getting lung cancer is to not smoke tobacco products. But even nonsmokers have health risks from secondhand smoke, or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), secondhand smoke is to blame for about 3,000 cases of lung cancer among nonsmokers in the United States every year.

In this activity, you'll find out more about the specific health risks linked to secondhand smoke. You'll also explore the science behind these risks, and learn what can be done to protect those at risk.

To begin, visit the EPA's Health Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke page.

1. Read the first paragraph What is Secondhand Smoke? How is secondhand smoke defined?
   
   
   
   
2. 1. Give the two other names for secondhand smoke.
      
      
      
      
   2. Explain why each is a good description of what ETS is.
      
      
      
      
3. 1. How many different chemical substances are found in secondhand smoke?
      
      
      
      
   2. How many of these are known to cause cancer in humans or animals?
      
      
      
      
4. In addition to lung cancer, what other major category of disease does ETS contribute to?
   
   
   
   
5. Read the paragraph Serious Health Risks to Children. Give three reasons why children are particularly vulnerable to secondhand smoke.
   
   
   
   
6. Which children are at greatest risk of developing damaging health problems from ETS?
   
   
   
   
7. List five different health risks for children exposed to secondhand smoke.
   
   
   
   
8. Describe the relationship between ETS and asthma in children.
   
   
   
   
9. Continue down to the paragraph The Science Behind the Risks. According to the 2004 NSEMA/CEE report, what percentage of children are regularly exposed to ETS?
   
   
   
   
10. How does this compare to the percentage in 1998?
    
    
    
    
11. Who are responsible for 90 percent of children's exposure to ETS?
    
    
    
    
12. 1. How is ETS classified by the EPA?
       
       
       
       
    2. What is this classification reserved for?
       
       
       
       
13. Go to the EPA Smoke-Free Homes Program and scroll to the three bullets in the middle of the page. How can people who smoke protect children and others living in their homes?