Passive smoking

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, also known as 'passive smoking', occurs from breathing other people's smoke. Both the burning end of a cigarette and the smoke breathed out by a smoker contribute to environmental tobacco smoke.

There is clear evidence about the effects of tobacco smoke on the health of non-smokers. Major reports on passive smoking consistently find that passive smoking is associated with cardiovascular disease in non-smokers living with smokers.
Passive smoking can also cause:

• lung cancer
• nasal sinus cancer
• stroke
• respiratory tract irritation
• an increased risk of bronchitis and pneumonia
• onset of asthma in children
• sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
• middle ear infections
• increased frequency and severity of asthma symptoms [45, 46]

Certain medical conditions are made substantially worse by tobacco smoke. Twenty-five per cent of the population suffers from asthma, heart disease, emphysema, cystic fibrosis and other medical conditions that are exacerbated by second-hand smoke. Young people exposed to daily second-hand smoke at home are seven times more likely to smoke.

Car and Home Smoke Free Zone was an ETS initiative targeting parents and carers of Aboriginal children 0-6 years. The program aim was to increase the number of parents and carers of children 0-6 years with smoke free cars and homes. The program sought to increase awareness amongst parents and carers of the dangers of exposing children to ETS.

In addition, the program provided training to Aboriginal Health and Community Workers with the aim of increase their awareness of the dangers ETS poses to child health and their capacity to deliver and reinforce this message in their community.

Download the following Car and Home Smoke Free Zone resources:

Environmental tobacco smoke Manual for Aboriginal Workers

Environmental tobacco smoke brochure

Car and Home Smoke Free Zone Project report