Secondhand Smoke: A Threat to Reckon

Secondhand smoke consists of a mixture of the smoke that is released from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe, and the exhaled smoke by the smoker. It typically contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Unfortunately, hundreds of these chemicals are toxic, out of which around 70 can cause cancer.

So, the two main components of secondhand smoke are as follows:

Mainstream smoke is the smoke breathed out by a smoker.
Sidestream smoke is emitted from the lighted end of a cigarette, cigar, pipe, or tobacco burning in a hookah. This kind of smoke has a higher concentration of cancer-causing agents or carcinogens and is thereby more toxic. Also, it contains tinier particles than mainstream smoke that easily make an inroad into the lungs and body cells.

When non-smokers are exposed to secondhand smoke, it is called passive smoking or involuntary smoking. These individuals take in nicotine and other toxic chemicals in the same way as smokers. Higher the amount of secondhand smoke you breathe, greater will be the level of harmful chemicals in your body.

Adverse Effects of Secondhand Smoke

Causes Cancer

Secondhand smoke has the risk of causing cancer as a good number of the chemicals contained are carcinogenic. It can lead to lung cancer even in individuals who have never smoked. Among adults, it has been linked to cancers of the pharynx, larynx, nasal sinuses, brain, rectum, stomach, bladder, and breast. In children, it has been linked to leukemia, lymphoma, liver cancer, and brain tumor. Incidentally, secondhand smoke in the USA leads to about 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year. This is an alarming statistic compared to less than 100 lung cancer deaths in a year from conventional forms of outdoor air pollution.

Aggravates Asthma

Those with asthma can experience intense suffering when exposed to secondhand smoke. It also causes more frequent asthma attacks. In vulnerable age groups such as children and the elderly, it can cause other respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis.

Causes Heart Diseases

Secondhand smoke contains chemicals that poison the heart muscle, hamper the capacity of blood vessels to adapt themselves to control blood flow and pressure, increase the blockages in blood vessels, and turn blood stickier. All these actions increase the risk of having a heart attack and other coronary diseases. There are 15 times more deaths from heart disease due to passive smoking compared to lung cancer.

Causes Complications in Pregnancy

For pregnant women, there are diverse health problems related to exposure to secondhand smoke. These include miscarriage, early birth, low birth weight, behavioral or learning challenges in the child, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Notably, SIDS leads to unexpected death of the infant while they are sleeping.

Leads to Ear Infections

Researchers have found that during the first three years of life, children who are exposed to cigarette smoke have a greater risk of contracting persistent or frequent ear infections. Children who stay in homes where family members smoke have a higher risk of developing middle ear infections than those whose houses are free of smoke. In fact, a study at Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found that a decrease in secondhand smoke in American homes was directly related to fewer cases of otitis media, commonly known as middle ear infection.

Making your home and workplace smoke-free is one of the most essential things you can do for the health of your family and employees. Any person can develop health issues related to secondhand smoke. Often, tobacco smoke can move through air ducts, floor and wall cracks, elevator shafts, and along crawl spaces, leading to contamination of air even in areas far from the smoke. Smoke-free premises protects your near and dear ones, employees, guests, and even your pets.

Overview of Indoor Air Cleanup

Prior Testing

To ensure your family or employees, depending on the scenario, a clean indoor air environment, our team conducts a quality test before beginning any work. Through this, we ascertain the allergens present in the specific area to understand the issues that need to be tackled. We test the allergens, gas levels, ventilation, and humidity to provide an appropriate cleanup to give the clean air you deserve.

Advance Estimate of Service

We believe in complete transparency with our esteemed customers. Once we determine the kind and extent of cleanup required, you will get an estimate of the expected cost of our service. Be rest assured that there will be no hidden charges. We will be more than happy to clarify all your queries and doubts.

Efficient Cleaning Services

After identifying the sources of your indoor air quality concerns, we use advanced, state-of-the-art equipment to clean up the indoor air. We use air purifiers, air cleaners as well as filtration and ventilation equipment for this purpose. Our experienced professionals will create a customized plan to make sure that your indoor air is safe, pure, and clean.

Are you experiencing frequent exposure to secondhand smoke? Do you suspect poor air quality within the confines of your property? Would you like immediate cleanup to tackle the problem?

Call ECOS at 888-375-3267 today!

We are committed to providing reliable services to make your life safer, easier, and better.

Why Choose ECOS?

We have a live operator on call 24/7 to schedule your project (Monday through Sunday).
Our services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.
We give topmost priority to the health and safety of our clients.
Our modern equipment is safe for people, animals, and sensitive materials.
Our technicians are friendly and helpful.
We have years of professional experience in the industry and are experts.
We have no hidden charges and offer competitive pricing.