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Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Cancer Information Service Health Topics A-Z Health Topics by Category
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Secondhand Smoke—There Is No Safe Level
Cancer Prevention Tips: November 2006
In June 2006, the Surgeon General of the United States published a report about health and secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is made up of sidestream smoke (the smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe) and mainstream smoke (the smoke exhaled by the smoker). It is sometimes called Environmental Tobacco Smoke or ETS.
The report found:
- ETS contains hundreds of chemicals known to cause cancer or be toxic.
- ETS causes heart disease, lung and nasal cancer, sudden infant death syndrome, breathing problems, ear infections and asthma attacks.
- In some studies, ETS is linked with breast cancer in younger, pre-menopausal women. The Surgeon General is doing more studies to see if this is true.
- Even brief contact with ETS causes bad health effects right away.
- Because the bodies of infants and children are still developing, they are more at risk for health effects of ETS.
- The amounts of the toxic chemicals in ETS may be higher than the smoke inhaled by smokers.
- Heat, air conditioning and ventilation systems can spread ETS throughout a building.
- There is no safe level of exposure to ETS!
For more information about any cancer concern, contact:
Cancer Information Service
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
UI Hospitals and Clinics
200 Hawkins Drive, 4802 JPP
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
Toll-free: 1-800-237-1225
cancer-information@uiowa.edu
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