Environmental tobacco smoke, also known as secondhand smoke, is the gas or smoke that had been generated from tobacco products and from the exhaled smoke from a smoker. ETS is composed of a mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke. Mainstream smoke is the smoke that was inhaled and later exhaled from the lungs of a smoker. While sidestream smoke is the smoke that is produced from the burning end of the cigarette, cigar or pipe. ETS contains toxic substances from mainstream smoke, such as low concentration of nicotine and tar, and from sidestream smoke, such as carbon monoxide and N-Nitrosodimethylamine.

Environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke is the exposure of a non-smoking individual to tobacco smoke. ETS contains more than 4,000 toxic substances which include carbon monoxide and N-Nitrosodimethylamine.

There are different health risks from Environmental Tobacco Smoke that affects infants and children. There is a high possibility of mortality among infants because of having Sudden Infant Death Syndrom (SIDS) due to the mothers’ exposure from ETS. ETS does not only affect infants, but also children. The children’s exposure to ETS will most likely affect their health and development. When children are exposed to ETS, there’s a probability that he/she will develop respiratory problems, like asthma. In addition, the children’s lung development might be delayed. Lastly, it may weaken the child’s immune system, making him/her vulnerable to infections, like ear infection.

Three Ways That ETS Affects Children
1. Possible incident of respiratory problems
2. Delayed lung development
3. Weak immune system

Since medical research provided information that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke poses threat to the human health, the United States Surgeon General proposed a policy that states the prohibition of smoking in public places in order to reduce the damaging health risks of ETS. Also, the Department of Health and Human Services started Healthy People 2010, where in, their goal is to reduce the mortality rate of tobacco users and even the use of tobacco products. This movement, along with the community, made a great impact to the society, which made a law that states the prohibition of selling tobacco products to a person under the age of 18.

Two Public Policies Aimed At Reducing ETS
1. Selling tobacco products to a minor is illegal
2. Smoking in public places is prohibited

Smoking during pregnancy causes developmental concerns with the health of the infant. When the infant’s mother is using tobacco throughout her pregnancy, the nicotine from the cigarette will progress through her placenta which will constrict the blood vessels of the fetus. Furthermore, tobacco produces carbon monoxide that will be the cause of a decreased oxygen levels in the blood of the fetus, therefore, the fetus does not get enough nutrients for his/her development during the pregnancy. Because of these chemicals, the infant may die due to sudden infant death syndrome, or the mother might have miscarriage or prenatal death. The infant may also be delivered premturely and have deformities or developmental problems.

The nicotine constricts the blood vessels of the fetus when it reaches the placenta. Additionally, the carbon monoxide from cigarette, reduces the oxygen levels and nutrients that the fetus acquire. These are the reasons that causes long-term health problems to infants with a mother who smoked during pregnancy.

Environmental tobacco smoke is the exhaled smoke from a smoker’s lungs and the smoke produced by the burning end of the tobacco product. ETS contains thousands of toxic compounds that would be detrimental to one’s health. ETS or secondhand smoke may also cause lung cancer, infections, respiratory problems and cardiovascular problems. In order to avoid these health problems from ETS, you should reduce your exposure to tobacco smoke. If someone is smoking in your household, encourage them to quit through explaining the danger of tobacco in one’s health. If they refused to quit, either instruct them to go outside when they are going to smoke or use an air cleaner to get rid of the tobacco contaminants suspended in the air. Make your house a smoke-free zone. Stay in a different area or open the windows for fresh air, if someone smokes. In public places, if there are smoke-free environment, inform them about your preference that you wanna stay in their non-smoking area.

People should avoid ETS because it contains chemicals that can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems. And in order to avoid it, people should make their house smoke-free zone. If their family member is a smoker, they should educate that person about the health risks of tobacco use and ask them to quit. If that person still doesn’t quit, either ask them to smoke outside or use air cleaners. In public places, always stay in a smoke-free environment.

In order to eliminate the influences of tobacco advertisements in the community, a person should be a role model among the other teenagers, he/she should not encourage the use of tobacco products. The reasons of using tobacco products among the community must be analyzed, whether its is due to tobacco advertisements, peer pressure or the family’s influence. Come up with possible methods to reduce tobacco use and do extensive research about the harmful effects of tobacco use and other information. Educate other teenagers regarding the health risks of smoking and encourage them that instead of purchasing high cost cigarettes, they should just save the money and buy anything that could be beneficial to their lives. And lastly, form a support group that will continuously help and guide other teenagers in making life decisions. Continue to positively influence others.

Steps in Eliminating the Influence of Tobacco Ads in the Community
1. Be a role model to others.
2. Know the reasons of tobacco us.
3. Do some research about health risks of tobacco.
4. Educate other teens.
5. Encourage to save money.
6. Form a support group.

Someone can be exposed to ETS when someone in their house is a smoker, if they have peers and colleagues who are smokes cigarettes and even in public places, where a lot of people use tobacco products. Environmental tobacco smoke can irritate the respiratory system and cause damages to someone’s health. These respiratory problems may include phlegm production, coughing, difficulties in breathing and shortness of breath. However, ETS does not only affect the respiratory capacity of a person, but also their mental health. Non-smokers being exposed to ETS causes them to experience annoyance, stress and discomforts. And to prevent these instances, the non-smokers should stay away or distance their selves to the people who smoke cigarettes. They should make their home a smoke-free zone and when they are in public places, request to be situated in a non-smoking environment.

The exposure to ETS can often happen in public places, such as bars. ETS could damage the respiratory and circulatory system of a person. Being exposed to ETS also causes discomfort and stress to non-smokers. And to prevent being exposed in this situation, you should distance yourself from smoking environments.