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Lauren Baker

Dean Leonard

ENGLISH COMPOSITION II

6 May 2022,

What Harm Can Second-Hand Smoke Cause to a Person’s Body and Mind?

People who grew up around smokers for most of their lives have a higher chance of

developing a type of mental disorder or lung disease, lung cancer, and more physical illnesses.

Those who grew up around secondhand smoke turn to smoking cigarettes or vaporizers

themselves in their adult life. This leads me to ask, can second-hand smoke (SHS) cause mental

health issues for adults and adolescents?

You can't discuss second-hand smoking if we don't reflect on the history of smoking it-

self. Initially, the use of tobacco was smoked with a pipe, chewed, or inhaled through the nose,

but it was not until the early 19th century that tobacco was introduced to the United States. Dur-

ing the Civil War, the popularity of cigarettes increased, and their use became more common. In

1864, a federal tax was levied on tobacco, and the manufacturing industry grew rapidly, becom-

ing an important American tobacco product. As tobacco factories grew, so did the anti-tobacco

movement, between the 1880s and 1920s, the movement was driven more by hygiene and ethical

concerns over the health concerns. Even though individuals were allowed to smoke in public

spaces, offices, and even in hospitals. Women were allowed to smoke cigarettes while in labor

and or after the baby had been birthed. During World War I, tobacco helped wounded soldiers

relax and relieve pain and was even praised by surgeons and army nurses. But in the late 1940s

and early 1950s, smoking was linked to lung cancer, blood diseases, and more. A scientific study

was carried out by general surgeons to determine that there is a link between lung cancer and
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smoking. It was not until the 1970s that the first scientific reports on environmental tobacco

smoke (ETS) posed health risks to non-smokers. A few states began to ban smoking in many

public spaces because (ETS) is a danger to the public. Then the federal government began to reg-

ulate smoking on government property and eventually stopped adding tobacco to military ra-

tions. Soon after, smoking was banned in all domestic businesses and aircraft.

I have first-hand experience with secondhand smoke. My parents, grandparents, and

close and distant relatives all smoked around my siblings and me. I remember our walls would

sweat some brown goo in the summertime and our windows would be so hard to clean as if some

type of grease was caked on. But one day, as I was helping my mother clean the house for spring,

I oversaw cleaning the walls, mostly because my dad would have dirty hands, or our dog would

lay up against the wall. There I was, on a step ladder with a bucket of my mom’s homemade

cleaning solution in one hand and a Mr. Clean bar in the other, and with just a light touch of the

scrubber and soap, brown goo slid off like a sled on snow. I was so disgusted I could taste the

vomit in the back of my mouth, the only thing I could say at the time was “What… What is

that!?!”, I thought we had a dead body in the wall because that’s what I have seen on TV. I ran to

my mother to report what I had just witnessed. All she had to say to me was “oh, that? Yeah, we

should clean the walls more often; all that brown goop is from the cigarette smoke from over the

years.” I was mortified, if this brown goop is on the wall, then it must be on their lungs. I begged

my parents to stop smoking but of course, they didn’t, granted, they did try for me, but they are

so dependent on cigarettes to help them de-stress. It wasn’t until years later, when I was sixteen,

that I heard secondhand smoke for the first time in school. I asked my parents what it was, but

they were brief and put my question to the side. But with access to the internet and Reddit, I

asked the same question. A doctor responded with the answer not even a day later, explaining
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that it was when an innocent person inhales cigarette smoke without consent. Did it answer my

question? Yes, yet I was filled with more. I did some research in my free time, only to discover

all the risks my parents put my siblings and me in harm's way, physically and developmentally.

In the article The History of Secondhand Smoke Exposure: Are We Asking the Right

Questions? Published by Mardi A. Crane-Moreau and Peter Payne, they discuss the physical

effects of passive smoking (SHS). SHS was studied in 2006 by general surgeons; They reported

strong evidence that SHS can cause lung disease and cancer, and early death in adults. But

children can cause similar symptoms, but also underdeveloped lungs, SIDS, asthma, and ear

infections. SHS has also been linked to breast cancer, sinus cancer in adults, leukemia,

lymphoma, and brain tumors in children and will affect them as adults. if they have been the

victim of being around smokers at any time in their lives. Authors, Crane-Godreau and Payne

stated, "additional reason for asking about a history of SHS exposure is suggested by the links

between Vitamin D deficiency and the development of COPD" (chronic obstructive pulmonary

disease). The researchers studied the effects of SHS-related vitamin D deficiency in mice. Some

mice had a vitamin D deficiency and others had COPD and had low vitamin D levels. In their

models that were exposed to tobacco smoke with vitamin D deficiency, the data they collected

supported the hypothesis that levels of Low 25-hydroxy vitamin D may contribute to the severity

of SHS-associated emphysema and has multiple roles in infections, cardiovascular disease,

osteoporosis all COPD products,

Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is exhaled by smokers

and inhaled by innocent bystanders. This article written by Soo Young Kim discusses both the

physical and mental illnesses of SHS. But most mental illnesses talk about how long-term

exposure to SHS can contribute to mental health problems in adults. There is an increase in
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cardiovascular diseases and cancers of the breast, lung, and pancreas. But the author goes deeper

than the physics; they discuss more intensely the spiritual part of SHS. Korea's National Health

and Nutrition Survey showed that more than 17,000 people participated; just over 3,000 people

were not harmed by SHS, and about 13,000 people were harmed by SHS. Soon after, they found

that those with long-term exposure had symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts.

Researchers have stated that SHS can increase the risk of depression. It is estimated that about

5.5 billion children are exposed to SHS in US households alone. Children living in smoking

households are at higher risk of health problems and risk of developing ADD, ADHD, and

behavioral problems than children who grow up in a non-smoking home. Secondhand smoke,

also known as environmental tobacco smoke, is exhaled by smokers and inhaled by innocent

bystanders. This article written by Soo Young Kim discusses both the physical and mental

illnesses of SHS. But most mental illnesses talk about how long-term exposure to SHS can

contribute to mental health problems in adults. There is an increase in cardiovascular diseases

and cancers of the breast, lung, and pancreas. But the author goes deeper than the physics; they

discuss more intensely the spiritual part of SHS. Korea's National Health and Nutrition Survey

showed that more than 17,000 people participated; just over 3,000 people were not harmed by

SHS, and about 13,000 people were harmed by SHS. Soon after, they found that those with long-

term exposure had symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts. Researchers have stated that

SHS can increase the risk of depression. It is estimated that about 5.5 billion children are

exposed to SHS in US households alone. Children living in smoking households are at higher

risk of health problems and risk of developing ADD, ADHD, and behavioral problems than

children who grow up in a non-smoking home.

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It has been estimated that around 5.5 billion children are exposed to SHS in U.S.

households alone. Children who live in smoking households have a higher chance of developing

health problems. This can increase mental and behavioral disorders by 50 percent. Children that

have been exposed for long periods are at higher risk for developing ADD, ADHD, and

behavioral disorders than children that grew up in a non-smoking household. The researchers

found that children and teens that have been exposed to SHS can suffer from major depressive

disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. A 2008 study on rats discovered that nicotine

exposure during adolescence can lead to depression and increased sensitivity to stress and

anxiety. Women who smoke while pregnant can have a low birth rate, infant death syndrome

(SIDs), poor lung development, and a higher chance of heart disease. Children who have been

exposed to SHS have a higher chance of becoming smokers themselves.

In China, many studies have been done to understand the physical outcomes of SHS, but

recently they conducted a study to understand the mental health side effects of SHS through a

questionnaire. Chinese researchers have concluded that children under the age of fifteen who

grow up in a smoking household have a high risk of mental illness that can affect their thoughts,

feelings, and ability to function daily. they. On the fourth page of the results, Tingzhong said the

survey "shows a higher prevalence of mental disorders in women than in boys in elementary

school students, or before middle and high school". SHS exposure is associated with mood

disorders such as depression and anxiety. It was also discovered that chronic exposure to SHS

may lead to lower levels of dopamine and r-aminobutyric acid, which have been known to be

linked to mood disorders. The study also reported that exposure to SHS in public places is

common in most restaurants and schools, hospitals, buildings, railway stations, and workplaces

in China. The Chinese government has agreed with the World Health Organization to establish
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the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on the prohibition of smoking in

workplaces and public places.

About 246 billion cigarettes are sold in the United States alone, and one-third of smokers

suffer from a mental illness. Those with chronic mental illnesses may die 25 years earlier than

the general population. People with chronic illnesses are 65% more likely to smoke than people

without a mental illness. As a result, their smoking has caused life-threatening diseases such as

heart disease, lung cancer, and even diabetes. 1 in 5 people in the US suffers from chronic mental

illness, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, eating disorders, and panic attacks,

the most well-known conditions. Disorders and even stress syndromes are linked to smoking. Dr.

Lewis Hall talked about a big myth that people with mental illness don't want to quit, but they

want to quit as much as a non-smoker. They have the same will, and just because mental illness

is related to smoking and SHS doesn't mean the cigarette has any power over them.
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Children between the ages of six and thirteen were asked to participate in a study of their

exposure to SHS; more than half were exposed to SHS outside of school, at home, and/or in

public. The children's parents answered a question; basically, the question is to what extent is a

child exposed to tobacco in a private or public space? And if so: how long is the child exposed to

SHS daily? The questionnaire consisted of a set of 25 items that addressed concerns about the

five most important areas of children's behavioral and emotional problems, including emotional

symptoms, behavioral problems, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, peer problems, and

social behavior. It came across to the researchers that compared to children from low

socioeconomic status (SES) families, children from higher SES families were less likely to be

prone to SHS exposure. Exposure to SHS is higher among children born in Shanghai than among

children born elsewhere in China. Poverty and lack of job opportunities, prompt parents to

smoke around their children. People have also been leaving the city because Shanghai is also an

expensive place to live. Exposure to SHS is an independent risk factor for psychological

problems in children, and exposure to SHS in childhood is associated with a higher risk of

psychological problems in adulthood.

One form of SHS that no one has thought of is vaping from e-cigarettes, a new form of

nicotine intake that is gaining popularity among young people. E-cigarettes are new consumer

products designed to produce nicotine vapor without the use of real tobacco, only nicotine

fractions of any flavor available to consumers. A typical e-cigarette is made up of three essential

parts: the battery; heating elements such as coils, flavored juices, and containers or housings that

contain nicotine solution. The product contains nicotine dissolved in propylene glycol, glycerin,

or a mixture of both. When an e-cigarette user takes a breath, the nicotine solution is heated, and

the vapor can be inhaled into the lungs. E-cigarettes are designed to deliver nicotine without the
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harmful ingredients of tobacco. The researchers tested the amount of nicotine in the air with e-

cigarettes versus cigarettes in the study. Nicotine was detected in the air during the test, where

the e-cigarette vapor was created by the smoker and released into the contact area. The average

concentration of nicotine produced from cigarettes is 10 times higher than that of e-cigarettes.

The chemical found in tobacco is a nascent vapor that is collected in a small emission chamber

and shows that the total concentration of tobacco air pollution is very low. You can still admit

vapors in a public space where someone can breathe it in, but the risk factor for SHS is ten times

lower than that of a cigarette made from tobacco.

People affected by SHS without consent will pay the same price as chain smokers.

Smoking is the number one preventable cause of death worldwide, contributing to six million
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deaths each year. However, the association with smoking is not limited to smokers but also

affects non-smokers nearby. People exposed to secondhand smoke have an increased risk of

cancer and other diseases. diseases like smokers themselves. More than 880,000 people

worldwide each year. Exposure to SHS is known to be associated with platelet activation and

endothelial dysfunction. SHS may be associated with major adverse effects on the cardiovascular

system. Exposure to SHS has also been associated with broader coronary heart disease. People

who have died from exposure to SHS have never been involved in smoking at any point in their

lives; They die from diseases related to tobacco smoke. Believe it or not, before 2006, it was

believed that SHS did not cause harm until "the federal government considered secondhand

smoke a public health hazard" (Zwillich). The American surgeon general, Richard Carmona,

announced that the debate was closed; There is no safe amount of SHS, and any smoke can cause

serious bodily harm to those around smokers. Also found in the report, findings suggest a

sensitization to secondhand smoke. Activity increases the risk of lung disease by more than 20%

in non-smokers. smoker. The report also states that more than ten thousand cases of heart disease

are reported each year due to secondhand smoke. The damage caused by SHS in 2006 was

similar to that reported in 1986 by the Surgeon General at the time, both of which said that SHS

was as dangerous as smoking yourself. But for the first time, secondhand smoke in homes and

public places can increase the risk of asthma attacks and damage blood vessels.

In conclusion, SHS has a lot of negative effects on the human body and mind. Children

born from a mother who smoked throughout their pregnancy have a low birth rate, and a higher

chance of ADHD, ADD, SIDs, and mental disorders. Once the children become adults, they

could develop depression and anxiety. Even innocent people who care for just one smoker are at

risk of developing lung cancer, pancreas cancer, blood disease, and more. From the early 1800s
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to now, people still have no regard for the safety of others, even though there have been special

smoking areas outside of grocery stores, amusement parks, and even large shopping centers.

Could people avoid these designated smoking areas? Yes, they could. They have the right to

smoke what they like, where they like, but they must take into regard others’ health. Some

people are allergic to cigarette smoke. Places in China have high health regard for their people.

For example, those who don’t smoke are gifted extra vacation days, and those who do smoke are

not given extra vacation days for the amount of time they go outside to smoke in a year while at

work. Secondhand smoke studies are still being done all over the world discovering the new

harmful side effects of cigarettes and SHS.

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Work Cited

Crane-Godreau, M. A., & Payne, P. (2013, February 20). A history of secondhand smoke expo-

sure: Are we asking the right questions? Frontiers in physiology. Retrieved April 8, 2022,

from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3576627/ 

Czogala, J., Goniewicz, M. L., Fidelus, B., Zielinska-Danch, W., Travers, M. J., & Sobczak,

A. (2014, June 16). Secondhand exposure to vapors from electronic cigarettes. Nicotine

& tobacco research: official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and To-

bacco. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/

PMC4565991/

Kim, Soo Young. “Secondhand Smoke Exposure, Depression Symptoms, and Suicidal Ideation

in Adults.” Korean Journal of Family Medicine, The Korean Academy of Family

Medicine, 25 Mar. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4826994/. 

Pearson, Catherine. “Secondhand Smoke Tied to Mental Health Problems in Kids: Study.” Huff-

Post, HuffPost, 7 Dec. 2017, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/secondhand-smoke-mental-

health_n_894185. 

Pfizer News, Pfizer, director. The Smoking and Mental Health Connection. YouTube, YouTube,

7 Nov. 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgC8N2ZUtko. Accessed 20 Mar. 2022. 

Tingzhong Yang, et al. “Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Public Venues and Mental Disorder: A

Representative Nationwide Study of China.” Tobacco Induced Diseases, vol. 13, no. 1,

July 2015, pp. 1–8. EBSCOhost, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12971-015-0046-7.

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Wang, H., Li, F., Zhang, Y. et al. The association between exposure to secondhand smoke and

psychological symptoms among Chinese children. BMC Public Health 19, 923 (2019).

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7006-8

Web Archive, C. D. C. (2022, March 25). Smoking and tobacco use. Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/index.htm

Yousuf, H. (2020, March 17). Estimated worldwide mortality attributed to secondhand tobacco

smoke exposure, 1990-2016. JAMA Network Open. Retrieved April 8, 2022, from https://

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2762812

Zwillich, T. (2006, June 27). 'Debate over' on secondhand smoke. WebMD. Retrieved April 8,

2022, from https://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20060627/debate-over-on-

secondhand-smoke