| Passive smoking may be defined as the involuntary | | | | living in houses where there are more than two |
| inhalation of smoke emanating from lit cigarettes. | | | | persons who are in the habit of smoking are 40 |
| Secondary smoke, second-hand smoke and | | | | percent more likely to undergo treatment for some |
| environmental tobacco smoke; all mean the same thing | | | | bronchial diseases than those living in a |
| i.e., the involuntary or forced inhalation of cigarette | | | | ‘non-smoking’ house. The reports have also |
| smoke. Cigarette smoke contains in it more than 4000 | | | | found that tobacco smoke has a very injurious effect |
| chemicals of which around 50 or so have got the | | | | on children of all age groups; these reports affirm that |
| potential to cause cancer in humans. These chemicals | | | | asthma is very much prevalent in such households. |
| include numerous hydro-carbons and substances like | | | | An increasing number of new cases of asthma are |
| arsenic. In the case of small children, there is practically | | | | attributed to passive smoking alone in the UK. |
| no choice other than to inhale this smoke when they | | | | Tobacco smoke exposure has a direct correlation |
| have to travel in public. Estimates suggest that more | | | | with increased occurrences of meningitis, mental |
| than 800 million children in different parts of the world | | | | impairment, autism and poor functioning of the faculties |
| are exposed to second hand smoke. This is apart | | | | of smell and taste. Links have also been found |
| from the 1.3 billion smokers who automatically inhale the | | | | between childhood exposure to second-hand smoke |
| fumes while they smoke. Even though one of the | | | | and occurrence of cancer in later life. A Norwegian |
| reports indicates that adult smoking figures have come | | | | research team found that people who had been |
| down by 20 percent, passive tobacco smoking poses | | | | continuously exposed to cigarettes during their |
| significant health risks to young children. | | | | childhood days registered poor attendance levels while |
| Parents need to be made aware of the risks of | | | | at work. Nonetheless, the specific risks that aggravate |
| smoking inside one’s house when their young | | | | due to passive smoking are not recognized by |
| children are there playing around. Public awareness | | | | smokers. |
| efforts have gained momentum and these | | | | In an earnest attempt to protect their children, there |
| movements are aimed at preventing children's | | | | are a lot of aspects that parent should take care of |
| exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. A study | | | | so that they can minimise their children's frequent |
| conducted by the World Health Organization stated | | | | exposure to tobacco smoke. Parents who are in the |
| that passive smoking is the main cause of bronchitis, | | | | habit of smoking should do it only outside the house. |
| asthma attacks, pneumonia and cot death in children. | | | | They should make it a point never to smoke in their |
| Other problems comprise coughing, wheezing, middle | | | | child's bedroom and by all means should not allow |
| ear infection and some cardiovascular and | | | | others to smoke there. Smokers have to ensure that |
| neurobiological disparities and impairment. A report | | | | they do not smoke while playing with children. |
| from South East Asia concluded that those children | | | | |