Ventilation Does Not Effectively Protect Nonsmokers from Secondhand Smoke OverviewExpert Conclusions on VentilationReferencesFor Further InformationOverviewSecondhand smoke is the combination of smoke from the burning end of a tobacco product and the smoke breathed out by the user. Secondhand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals; hundreds are toxic, and about 70 can cause cancer.1,2 There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can cause immediate harm.2 Establishing a 100% smokefree environment is the only effective way to fully protect nonsmokers from secondhand smoke.2,3,4Expert Conclusions on VentilationU.S. Surgeon GeneralIn 2006, the U.S. Surgeon General released a report entitled The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General.2 The report stated that the scientific evidence now supports the following major conclusion:“Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.”air purifier ceramic2This conclusion was substantiated, in part, by the following facts:Conventional air cleaning systems can remove large particles but not the smaller particles or the gases found in secondhand smoke.best air purifiers for dust and moldCurrent heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems alone do not control secondhand smoke exposure. american air comfort duct cleaningIn fact, these systems may distribute secondhand smoke throughout a building.Even separately enclosed, separately exhausted, negative-pressure smoking rooms do not keep secondhand smoke from spilling into adjacent areas.

World Health Organization (WHO)In 2007, WHO released a report entitled Protection from Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke: Policy Recommendations.3 In light of the available scientific evidence on ventilation, the report made the following recommendation to protect workers and the public from exposure to secondhand smoke:"Remove the pollutant—tobacco smoke—by implementing 100% smokefree environments. This is the only effective strategy to reduce exposure to tobacco smoke to safe levels in indoor environments and to provide an acceptable level of protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure. Ventilation and smoking areas, whether separately ventilated from nonsmoking areas or not, do not reduce exposure to a safe level of risk and are not recommended."The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)ASHRAE is the national standard-setting body for indoor air quality, including ventilation issues. In 2010, ASHRAE released a report entitled ASHRAE Position Document on Environmental Tobacco Smoke.4 The report included the following major conclusions:“At present, the only means of effectively eliminating health risks associated with indoor exposure is to ban smoking activity.”“

No other engineering approaches, including current and advanced dilution ventilation or air cleaning technologies, have been demonstrated or should be relied upon to control health risks from environmental tobacco smoke exposure in spaces where smoking occurs.”“Because of ASHRAE’s mission to act for the benefit of the public, it encourages elimination of smoking in the indoor environment as the optimal way to minimize environmental tobacco smoke exposure.”ReferencesU.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: What It Means to You. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2010 [accessed 2014 Apr 25].U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006 [accessed 2014 Apr 25].

World Health Organization (WHO). Protection from Exposure to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke: Policy Recommendations. WHO Press, 2007 [accessed 2014 Apr 25].American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ASHRAE Position Document on Environmental Tobacco Smoke. Atlanta: ASHRAE, 2010 [accessed 2014 Apr 25].For Further InformationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionOffice on Smoking and HealthE-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.govPhone: 1-800-CDC-INFOMedia Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line at 770-488-5493. Tobacco Industry and Products Youth and Young Adult Data Smoking & Tobacco Use Media Air Purifiers and Tobacco SmokeHow Does SHS Relate To Asthma? SHS may trigger asthma episodes and make asthma symptoms more severe in children whoMoreover, it is a risk factor for new cases of asthma in children who have not previously exhibited asthma symptoms.

The means by which SHS triggers an asthma episode is believed to be through itsThat is, it irritates the chronically inflamed bronchial passages ofThis is a different pathway from most of the other environmental triggers of asthma, like dust mites and pet dander, which trigger asthma episodes through allergenic Exposure to it is also known to cause a variety of other negative health consequences, including lung cancer, ear infections in children, and respiratory illnesses. Many of the health effects of SHS (including asthma) are most clearly manifested inThis is because children are particularly vulnerable to SHS. This is likely due to several factors, including the fact that children are still developing physically, have higher breathing rates than adults, and have little control over their indoorChildren receiving high doses of SHS, such as those with smoking mothers, run the greatest relative risk of experiencing damaging health effects.

Actions You Can Take Which Unit Do You Need? Shop & reduce secondhand smoke here The three most common approaches to reducing indoorreduce or control thealthough it is difficult to force pets outdoors, stop people from using cigarettes and cigars and eliminate all odors. Ventilation: Dilute and exhaust pollutants throughin the winter however, venting to the outdoors may increase heating and energy costs. Air Cleaning: Remove pollutants and secondhand smoke through proven air cleaning methods and products. The first approach -- source control -- involves minimizing the use of products and materials that cause indoor pollution including secondhand smoke, employing good hygiene practices to minimize biological contaminants (including the control of humidity and moisture, and occasional cleaning and disinfection of wet or moist surfaces), and using good housekeeping practices to control particles. The second approach -- outdoor air ventilation -- is