| This is for the first time that the researchers | | | | identified as carcinogens. The 2006 US Surgeon |
| have reported a possible link between secondhand | | | | General's report reached several important |
| smoke and glucose intolerance. BMJ Online First | | | | conclusions: |
| published a study in which it shows an association | | | | - Secondhand smoke causes premature death |
| between tobacco exposure including nonsmokers | | | | and disease in children and in adults who do not |
| exposed to secondhand smoke, and glucose | | | | smoke. |
| intolerance. However the study does not prove | | | | - Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at |
| that secondhand smoke causes glucose | | | | an increased risk of sudden infant death |
| intolerance. | | | | syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear |
| Thomas Houston, MD, MPH, of Alabama's | | | | problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by |
| Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and | | | | parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows |
| his colleagues studied more than 4,600 young | | | | lung growth in their children. |
| blacks and whites for 15 years. Current cigarette | | | | - Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has |
| smokers were most likely to develop glucose | | | | immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular |
| intolerance, which was defined as having diabetes | | | | system and causes coronary heart disease and |
| or impaired fasting glucose (blood sugar). Having | | | | lung cancer. |
| impaired fasting glucose is also referred to as | | | | - The scientific evidence indicates that there is no |
| pre-diabetes. Nonsmokers reporting | | | | risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. |
| secondhand-smoke exposure came in second, | | | | - Millions of Americans, both children and adults, |
| followed by former smokers. Nonsmokers | | | | are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their |
| without secondhand-smoke exposure were least | | | | homes and workplaces despite substantial |
| likely to develop glucose intolerance, as per the | | | | progress in tobacco control. |
| study. | | | | - Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully |
| Not only diabetes...second hand smoke is a risk | | | | protects nonsmokers from exposure to |
| factor to the heart as well. According to a study | | | | secondhand smoke. Separating smokers from |
| done by London's St George's Medical School and | | | | nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating |
| the Royal Free hospital, passive smoking increases | | | | buildings cannot eliminate exposures of |
| the risk of coronary heart disease by 50-60%. | | | | nonsmokers to secondhand smoke. |
| Why would it not harm when secondhand smoke | | | | Everyone knows, including those who already are |
| is a toxic cocktail consisting of poisons and | | | | smokers, that tobacco in any form is harmful. So, |
| carcinogens. There are over 4000 chemical | | | | as a smoker or non-smoker, one should provide |
| compounds in secondhand smoke; 200 of which | | | | smoke-free environment at least to his loved |
| are known to be poisonous, and 60 have been | | | | ones. Don't you think so? |