Second-hand smoke

Passive smoking is a serious public health risk. Commonly referred to as second-hand smoke (SHS) or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), it causes cancer and childhood respiratory diseases, increases the risk of heart disease and worsens conditions such as asthma and bronchitis.   A 2008 study by the American College of Cardiology suggests that the effects of half-an-hour's passive smoking last for 24 hours but sustained exposure can lead to heart attacks, strokes and high blood pressure - as well as de-activating repair cells; not only does a person develop blood vessel injury but the cells that help repair this damage are themselves dysfunctional.  The study may explain why there is often a drop in heart attack admissions in places which pass smoking bans.

For an overview of second-hand smoke we would recommend the following:

• Conclusions and recommendations of 'Passive smoking and children' (pdf)
  March 2010 report from the Tobacco Advisory Group of the Royal College of Physicians
• ASH Scotland information briefing on child exposure to second-hand smoke in the home
  (pdf, 83kb) (March 2010)
• ASH Scotland information briefing on second-hand smoke in cars (pdf, 55kb)(April 2009)
• Latest research on second-hand smoke (updated weekly)
• Tobacco Smoke and Involuntary Smoking: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans Volume 83 (2004)
• Passive smoking: unclouding the issue; and The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: a report of the Surgeon General.  A wider collection of resources on passive smoking are available below and are arranged in alphabetical order.

Search the NHS Scotland e-Library to look for more resources on passive smoking.

	ASH Scotland information briefing: second-hand smoke in cars This briefing paper produced by ASH Scotland in 2009 provides information on second-hand smoke in cars. Second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with a number of serious health risks and children are particularly vulnerable to the effects, which can reach high levels in cars. Currently twelve jurisdictions have smoke-free car laws to protect children.
	Breaking the cycle of children's exposure to tobacco smoke British Medical Association report which describes the damage that adult smoking causes children. It explores effective ways of protecting some of the most vulnerable people in society from short and long-term harm, and recommends evidence-based policies that need to be adopted to break the cycle of children's exposure to tobacco smoke. Published 2007.
	Lifting the smokescreen: 10 reasons for a smoke free Europe Published in 2006 by Smoke Free Partnership, this report includes estimates of deaths attributable to passive smoking in Europe, the economics of going smoke free and public opinion on smoke free laws.
	Lifting the smokescreen: tobacco industry strategy to defeat smoke free policies and legislation This 2006 report discusses how the tobacco industry recruited scientists to undermine research which found that passive smoking causes harm.
	Passive smoking and associated causes of death in adults in Scotland Published by NHS Health Scotland in 2005, this report estimates the number of deaths from the major-smoking-related causes of deaths in Scottish adults that can be attributed to passive smoking.
	Passive smoking and health Produced by NHS Health Scotland in 2008, this leaflet provides information on passive smoking and health.
	Passive smoking and the health of babies and children Produced by NHS Health Scotland in 2008, this leaflet provides information of the effects of passive smoking on babies and children.
	Passive smoking: unclouding the issue Produced by NHS Health Scotland in 2008, this booklet provides information to the general public on passive smoking.
	Policy recommendations on protection from exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke The World Health Organization makes policy recommendations to protect worker and the public from exposure to second-hand smoke. Published in 2007.
	Protecting community staff from exposure to second-hand smoke: RCN best practice guide for staff and managers Published in 2006 by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), these guidelines are aimed at RCN members and provide advice on how to protect staff members from exposure to second-hand smoke while working in patients' homes. It includes best practice examples from selected NHS Trusts.
	Scottish parliamentary questions: passive smoking Provides the full-text of Scottish Parliamentary Written Questions and Answers on passive smoking taken from the Scottish Parliament's written answers report.
	Secondhand smoke: review of the evidence since 1998: update of evidence on health effects of secondhand smoke Provides access to the updated SCOTH report on the health effects of passive smoking.
	Smoking in public places consultation briefing ASH Scotland briefings are produced using published research evidence. This briefing paper summarises the main legislative points of a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places in Scotland.
	The human cost of tobacco, passive smoking: doctors speak out on behalf of patients Case studies of death, disability and disease caused by second-hand smoke. A 2005 report by the British Medical Association.
	Tobacco smoke concentrations in cars Background information on smoking in cars from the Ontario Medical Association
	Working for a smokefree future Working for a Smokefree Future, is the first report to detail the benefits of smokefree workplaces on workers and employers. The report finds that the only effective protection for workers is 100% smokefree workplaces. Smokefree workplace policies are popular: they save businesses money, improve worker health, and are easily enforced