Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

By Allen Fitzgerald Carpenter

ENG 2 Assignment 8 Dr. Alice Jewell 24 May 2011

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

OUTLINE

Thesis Statement: Secondhand smoke is a lethal combination of poisons and carcinogens that can cause disease and damage lungs, respiratory system and heart of both adults and children. I. Introduction II. Secondhand Smoke and Cancer A. Cancer 1. Statistics of Cancer 2. Cancers caused by smoking B. Breathing Problems 1. Asthma 2. Influenza III. How Secondhand Smoke Can Affect Health A. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome B. Chronic respiratory symptoms IV. The Risks of Secondhand Smoke to Non Smokers A. Continual exposure to ETS B. Heart disease mortality V. Conclusion

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

The Effects of Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke is a lethal combination of poisons and carcinogens that can cause disease and damage lungs, respiratory system and heart of both adults and children. There is a need to discuss secondhand smoke and its effects on non smokers plus address that there is no real risk free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and its effects. Secondhand smoke causes numerous health problems in infants and children, including severe asthma attacks, respiratory infections and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The following paper will outline specific details to support my concerns on this topic. First, secondhand smoke causes cancer and breathing problems for people of all ages which will be covered in the following paragraph. There are over 4000 chemical compounds in secondhand smoke, 200 of which are known to be poisonous, and upwards of 60 have been identified as carcinogens. (Martin) Smokers smoking cigarettes by inhaling smoke that contains these carcinogens and then exhaling the smoke, which floats in the air around other people non smokers, allows for smoke to enter the respiratory system of these non smokers are exposed to the poisonous secondhand smoke.

Next, Secondhand smoke is an instrumental part of many health problems which you might not be familiar with. The exposure to secondhand smoke increases the chances of lung cancer among non smokers. Cancer is most commonly linked with smoking: around 85 to 90% of all lung cancers are caused by smoking according to the Cancer Research UK, or as a result of contact to secondhand smoke. As a result of its poor detection methods, lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death, responsible for around 1 in 5 of all cancer deaths in the UK.(Cancer Research UK) The relationship between long-term cigarette smoking and lung cancer was established back in the 1950s. Continued medical studies about smoking and its effects over the last forty
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Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

years have shown the effect of exposure to secondhand smoke and the risk of developing lung cancer among non smokers. The following information points out why it is so important to avoid smoking and also have bans in place to protect the non smokers. We should not have to breathe in air polluted with smoke from cigarettes and cigars. Now let us look at the statistics regarding secondhand smoke on peoples health especially cancer. There are no combined global figures available at the moment, but from reliable sources it is shown that the number of cancer victims is high. As made known on the American Cancer Society website that in the United States, each year secondhand smoke is to blame for an estimated 3,400 lung cancer deaths in nonsmoking adults and other breathing complications for non smokers which include coughing, mucus buildup, chest pains, and reduced respiratory functions. It seems low when compared to regular smokers; however it does provide sufficient data to show that non smokers are also at risk from the deadly smoke of cigarettes. As we can see, breathing of secondhand smoke can lead to cancer, other physical health problems and create many problems with the respiratory system. Now, looking at the respiratory problems associated with secondhand smoke for people all who do not smoke. The respiratory system is a complex system that continuously works to supply oxygen to our body through the complicated intake into our lungs and transferred by the blood system. The human respiratory system, working in conjunction with the circulatory system, supplies oxygen to the body's cells, removing carbon dioxide in the process. The exchange of these gases occurs across cell membranes both in the lungs and in the body tissues. (UXL Encyclopedia of Science) The process of breathing, demonstrates the humans ability to inhale and exhale air for life. Our human respiratory system consists of the respiratory tract that includes the nose, wind pipe and the lungs (external respiration). In addition secondhand smoke even destroys our body tissue (internal respiration) when we are breathing smoke. A person breathing secondhand smoke may possibly have the following symptoms like runny nose, sneezing and coughing. There are other groups of people highly exposed to secondhand smoke that may have even more severe difficulties and problems. Those
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Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

at risk for severe problems are fetuses and newborns, children and teens and people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. UXL Encyclopedia of Science) All other

non-smokers are also at risk. .The available details concerning solid numbers of victims of respiratory problems associated with secondhand smoke are not easy to resource, but the American Cancer Society has documented that secondhand smoke is responsible for 50,000 to 300,000 lung infections yearly. The high number of victims demonstrates that exposure to secondhand smoke can cause serious health problems related to the lungs and breathing. The respiratory system will be attacked by the secondhand smoke, which can lead to illnesses and breathing difficulties like asthma which is followed in more detail.

In addition, we can see that asthma is a serious concern when looking at the dangers of secondhand smoke especially in children. It seems to add to the dangers and risks of children during the important development stages. Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of secondhand smoke because they are still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults, and have little control over their indoor environments. (EPA) The continued exposure to secondhand smoke can cause asthma in children who have never shown symptoms. Additional health risks for children with asthma, which is the most common childhood disease affecting school-aged children according to the article Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Children's Health. Also continued breathing of secondhand smoke can cause new cases of asthma in children who have not previously shown symptoms. Secondhand smoke will make it highly possible to start asthma attacks and make asthma symptoms more intense according to doctors studying secondhand smoke in the U.S. and U.K. It can be seen that secondhand smoke causes increased difficulties with asthma victims and also with another respiratory illness named influenza.

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

Now we will review and explain that influenza (flu) is also a result of secondhand smoke and can create worse conditions for people who have the illness. Influenza is caused by a virus and there are also different strains, or types, of the flu virus every year during the flu season. A recent study conducted on secondhand smoke in kids with flu shows that children which are exposed to secondhand smoke will have worse cases of flu than other children not exposed to secondhand smoke. Children are more likely to need intubation and intensive care when hospitalized with influenza, as well as have longer stays, according to findings from the University of Rochester (Yahoo News) Influenza becomes more serious when the non smoker is exposed to secondhand smoke. People who are affected by influenza should avoid all smokers and also places where secondhand smoke is found.

Moving onwards, it is important now to address heart diseases and how secondhand smoke increases the health risks and dangers by attacking the circulatory system. Secondhand smoke, according to Wikipedia, affects the heart and causes diseases. Heart disease mortality accounts for an estimated 35,000 to 62,000 deaths which are caused from heart disease in people who are non smokers, but who are exposed to secondhand smoke, according to Answers.com. (Wiki) The numbers of deaths will also be discussed more in a later paragraph. Acute and chronic coronary heart disease is also a result of long term exposure to secondhand smoke. Passive smoking has been linked to the narrowing of the carotid arteries, which carry blood to the brain. Exposure to secondhand smoke hastens hardening of the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. (Martin) It is noted that continual exposure to secondhand smoke has shown very high chances of heart attack. Now that we can see the risk of heart disease from secondhand smoke, I will discuss other health problems like sudden infant death Syndrome (SIDS).

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

Now to the topic of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) which kills newborns mysteriously. SIDS is marked by the sudden death of an infant that is unexpected by medical history and remains unexplained after a thorough forensic autopsy and a detailed death scene investigation.(Wikipedia) Although there is no clear reason how to understand or explain the death of children by SIDS, it can be found that second hand smoke does contribute to the syndrome and should be considered seriously when smokers expose children to the dirty air created by pollution from cigarettes. Maternal smoking is the strongest risk factor leading to SIDS. Infants who die from SIDS tend to have higher concentrations of nicotine in their lungs than do control children, regardless of whether smoking is reported. (Wikipedia) Now we know that more needs to be done to understand the relationship between the causes of SIDS and secondhand smoke. Other chronic respiratory symptoms will now be discussed in the next paragraph. Accordingly, we will now discuss the risks of secondhand smoke to non smokers with focus on items not covered in previous paragraphs. Respiratory problems and risks are numerous, but you can see from these details the higher risks associated with secondhand smoke.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. (ACS) It is also possible for these infections to lead to other complications including death of the victims of secondhand smoke. Sickness caused by secondhand smoke remains high from what statistics are reflecting today. The EPA estimates that between 150,000 and 300,000 annual cases of lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children up to 18 months of age are attributable to secondhand smoke exposure.(ACS) Regarding these number of cases, it is estimated that between 7,500 and 15,000 lead to hospitalization of the person. These risks should be of concern to the non smoker and also avoid these risks to maintain a healthier and better quality life. Also reflected are additional details stating Infants whose mothers smoke are 50 percent more likely to be hospitalized with a respiratory infection during their first year when compared to infants with non smoking mothers.(ACS)

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

Newborns with mothers that smoke openly around them have a very high, 56 percent, risk of being hospitalized when compared to newborns whose mothers smoke in another room away from the babies. In addition, there is a 73 percent higher risk if mothers smoke while holding their infants and a 95 percent higher risk if mothers smoke while feeding their infants.(ACS) The exposure to smoke will also create problems for development of the newborn children in their early years in addition to the high possibility of illnesses. This covers the risks related to secondhand smoke or also known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) which I will bring in the next paragraph. As can be expected, continual exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), another name for secondhand smoke, is dangerous to your health, especially over long term. Continual exposure to ETS has been shown to nearly double the chance of heart attack. (Martin) This shows us that smoke compounded with continual exposure or long term will certainly increase chances of heart diseases, respiratory illnesses, asthma, influenza and other health issues. Health problems related to secondhand smoke include signs and symptoms in adults like rhinitis, nasal congestion, persistent cough, conjunctiva irritation, headaches, wheezing, and exacerbation or chronic respiratory conditions. In children, asthma onset, increased difficulty in controlling asthma, frequent upper respiratory infections and persistent middle-ear effusion, snoring, repeated pneumonia, bronchitis according to articles on secondhand smoking listed on Consumer Product Safety Commission website. People can take action to improve the environment or lower their personal risk of secondhand smoke damage, effects and illnesses. While improved general ventilation of indoor spaces may decrease the odor of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), Note that health risks cannot be eliminated by generally accepted ventilation methods. (CPSC) Heart disease is covered in the next paragraph.

Subsequently, heart disease mortality is a high risk for non smokers. As I have researched, data suggests that brief and long term exposure to secondhand smoke can result in heart disease in non smoking adults and children. This result is manifested as lower exercise levels in people breathing secondhand smoke. The effects of
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Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

secondhand tobacco smoke on the cardiovascular system are not caused by a single component of the smoke, but rather are caused by the effects of many elements, including carbon monoxide, nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and other, not fully specified elements in the smoke. (JAMA) Non smokers exposed to secondhand smoke in everyday life exhibit an increased risk of both fatal and nonfatal cardiac events. At present, progress has been made in exposure to involuntary contact with secondhand smoke by stricter laws banning smoking in workplaces and most public places. The result of new laws to ban smoking and their effects on the overall health of non smoking adults remains a question. This undocumented information will be collected and compiled in the near future as these regulations and agencies are able to monitor the effects and changes that will result from these new smoking regulations.

In conclusion you should not underestimate the dangers of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is extremely dangerous and harmful to a persons health which needs to be taken very seriously and should be a major concern for every person who breathes it in. Note also that non smokers inhaling secondhand smoke share some of the health risks that smokers face. While secondhand smoke may not kill as many people as smoking does, it is toxic and claims thousands of lives every year around the world. As discussed cancer, respiratory problems, SIDS and heart diseases are all major concerns for the non smoker.

Allen Carpenter th10007 ENG 2 Writing Assignment

Works Cited
"Cancer Facts & Figures 2010." 2010. American Cancer Society (ACS), 10 Apr. 2011.<http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/CancerCauses/TobaccoCancer/secondhand-smoke>.

"Cancer Stats Key Facts. " November 2010. Cancer Research UK. 10 Apr. 2011 <http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/cancerstats/keyfacts/ >.

"Does second hand smoking cause heart disease?" 2010. Wiki . 11 Apr. 2011 < http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Does_second_hand_smoking_cause_heart_diease>.

Glantz, Stanton, and William Parmley. Passive Smoking and Heart Disease. Chicago: JAMA, 1995 "Health Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke." 2011. EPA. 12 Apr. 2011. http://www.epa.gov/smokefree/healtheffects.html

"Health Effects Of Secondhand Smoke on Children." 2009. Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR). 10 Apr. 2011. <http://no-smoke.org/document.php?id=212>

"Indoor Air Pollution: Introduction for Health Professionals." 2011. CPSC. 12 Apr. 2011<http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/455.html>

Martin, Terry. "The Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Our Health" 2008. 14 Apr. 2011.<http://quitsmoking.about.com/cs/secondhandsmoke/a/secondhandsmoke.htm>

"Respiratory System ." 2002. UXL Encyclopedia of Science . 12 Apr. 2011.<http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/respiratory_system.aspx>

"Secondhand smoke and flu." 2011. Yahoo News. 11 April 2011. <http://news.yahoo.com/topics/influenza>.

"Sudden infant death syndrome.2011. Wikipedia. 11 April 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudden_Infant_Death>.

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