Second-hand smoke
Non-smokers at risk
Breathing other people's smoke is known as passive smoking or second-hand smoking. This can affect the health of everyone who lives with a smoker, particularly children and even pets!
Second-hand smoke could account for as many as 2,700 deaths each year in people aged between 20 and 63 and as many as 8,000 deaths in people aged 63+.
During a year, children who live in a home where both parents smoke can breathe in the same amount of nicotine as if they had smoked up to 150 cigarettes themselves! Young children have a 72% increased risk of illnesses such as chest-infections, ear infections and even heart problems.
Second-hand smoke has also been linked to asthma in children.