Secondhand Smoke-- More Dangerous than Actual Smoking?

3rd Grade Students and Parents: Please note that I saved just a few posts from when the blog was devoted to 5th graders. This is one. You can certainly check it out if you are interested to see what you might learn in just a few years, but your Science studies will look a little different! :) 

Because the students will soon be presented with information about smoking in the Too Good For Drugs program, I wanted to share the thoughts of Craig Nabat (a smoking counselor). He was recently asked the following question, and what follows that is his response:

Hi Craig,

I heard that second hand smoke is worse for you that actually smoking — surely this cant be true right?

According to Craig:

Actually second hand smoke is considered more dangerous than the mainstream smoke that is actually inhaled. The smoke that comes off the end of the cigarette has a higher concentration of cancer-causing agents. A person who smokes actually is smoking the cigarette through a filter which diminishes some of the harmful toxins. When smokers blow out smoke
it lingers in the air for several hours afterwards and effects the lungs and oxygen levels of the people around the smokers. The second hand smoke contains smaller particles than mainstream smoke, which make their way into the body's cells more easily.

Breathing secondhand smoke for a short time can irritate your lungs and reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood. Prolonged or repeated exposure to secondhand smoke is much more dangerous. And it isn't just the smoke that's a concern. The residue that clings to a smoker's hair and clothing, household cushions, and carpeting continue to poses a health threat. An estimated 600,000 die worldwide from second hand smoke and they weren't even smokers.

In the event that you are ever forced to be in a car with someone who is smoking, politely say to them, “I made the choice to be a non-smoker, please do not force me to smoke.