Protecting family & friends

When you smoke, people around you breathe in the smoke you breathe out and the smoke burning from the cigarette. This is called second-hand smoke. It is very harmful.

Even if you don’t smoke near them, they can still breathe in the smoke from your hair, skin and clothes.

Second-hand smoke has many of the same chemicals as the smoke that is directly inhaled by the person smoking. This means it can cause health problems similar to active smoking.

There are at least 250 chemicals in second-hand smoke that are known to be toxic, including at least 50 that are known to cause cancer. There is no safe amount of second-hand smoke.

Second-hand smoke can also harm pets and increase their risk of cancer.

The best way to protect your loved ones from second-hand smoke is to quit smoking.