Secondhand smoke has been linked to a variety of health problems including lung cancer and chronic lung disease. It is estimated that secondhand smoke results in 3,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the US among nonsmokers.
In children and adolescents, secondhand smoke can damage developing lungs and increase cases of pneumonia and bronchitis. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are more likely to have reduced lung function and increased cases of ear infection due to the buildup of fluid in the middle ear. Secondhand smoke increases the number of asthma attacks and makes attacks worse. Secondhand smoke may be responsible for as many as 1.6 million office visits for middle ear infections and 300,000 cases of childhood bronchitis and pneumonia in the US each year.
This document entitled Secondhand Smoke in New Hampshire, 2003 (15 pages) is the first report specific to the issue of secondhand smoke in NH. It explores the effects of secondhand smoke on youth, in the home, in the workplace, and in restaurants.
A second document Secondhand Smoke in New Hampshire, 2003 Executive Summary (4 pages) summarizes the Report and highlights the critical data. |
