Secondhand & Thirdhand Smoke
Protecting Yourself and Your Family from Tobacco Smoke
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand & thirdhand smoke. Even brief exposure can harm your heart and lungs and increase the risk of serious health problems.
Secondhand and thirdhand smoke affect people of all ages, but children, older adults, pregnant women, and people living with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other chronic health conditions are especially vulnerable.
Creating tobacco-free homes, vehicles, workplaces, and public spaces is one of the most effective ways to protect your health and improve indoor air quality.
What Is Secondhand Smoke?
Secondhand smoke is the combination of:
- Smoke from the burning end of commercial tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and hookahs
- Smoke exhaled by someone who is smoking
People nearby breathe many of the same harmful chemicals as the person smoking.
Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and dozens known to cause cancer.
Even occasional exposure can have immediate effects on the heart and lungs.
Why Is Secondhand Smoke Harmful?
Secondhand smoke affects nearly every organ in the body. Breathing tobacco smoke, even if you do not smoke yourself, can:
- Damage the heart and blood vessels
- Irritate the lungs and airways
- Trigger asthma symptoms
- Increase the risk of respiratory infections
- Reduce lung function over time
- Increase the risk of certain cancers
The more often you are exposed, the greater your risk of developing smoking-related diseases.
Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke
Secondhand smoke has been linked to many serious health conditions, including:
- Heart disease and heart attack
- Stroke
- Lung cancer
- COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
- Asthma attacks and worsening asthma symptoms
- Bronchitis and pneumonia
- Eye, nose, and throat irritation
- Reduced lung function
- Respiratory infections
People with asthma, COPD, or other lung diseases may notice symptoms become worse even after brief exposure.
Children Are Especially Vulnerable
Children breathe more rapidly than adults, and their lungs are still developing. This makes them especially sensitive to the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Children exposed to tobacco smoke are more likely to experience:
- Asthma attacks
- Ear infections
- Bronchitis and pneumonia
- Chronic cough and wheezing
- More frequent respiratory illnesses
- Reduced lung growth and development
What Is Thirdhand Smoke?
Thirdhand smoke is the sticky residue left behind after tobacco smoke clears. It can remain on:
- Clothing
- Furniture
- Carpets and rugs
- Curtains
- Walls
- Car interiors
- Children's toys
- Bedding
People can be exposed by touching contaminated surfaces or breathing in particles that remain in the environment. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable because they spend more time on floors and frequently place their hands and objects in their mouths.
Opening windows, using fans, or air fresheners will not remove thirdhand smoke. The best way to prevent exposure is to maintain tobacco-free homes and vehicles.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
You can reduce exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke by:
- Making your home completely tobacco-free
- Never smoking or vaping inside your home or vehicle
- Asking visitors to smoke outside and away from doors and windows
- Choosing smoke-free restaurants, hotels, and public places
- Encouraging caregivers not to smoke around children
- Supporting family members who want to quit using tobacco
- Learning how to reduce exposure to thirdhand smoke
Every smoke-free space helps protect the health of everyone who lives, works, or visits there.
Creating Smoke-Free Communities
Smoke-free policies help protect everyone from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Tobacco-free homes, workplaces, schools, parks, healthcare facilities, and multi-unit housing improve indoor air quality and create healthier environments for everyone.
Everyone deserves to breathe clean, smoke-free air.
Need Help Quitting?
If you or someone you care about uses tobacco, quitting is the best way to protect your health and reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.
Free quit support is available through the New Hampshire Quitline by calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW or visiting QuitNowNH.org.
