Why should Canadians care about banning smoking in cars carrying children? Because second-hand smoke is more concentrated in a confined space. Within a vehicle, poisons found in smoke can reach high levels in a short amount of time.

A 2006 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that breathing in smoke from a single cigarette for only five minutes in a car exposes a person to the same amount of smoke as spending the equivalent time in a smoky bar. Babies and children are most vulnerable because they breathe more rapidly and take in more harmful chemicals for their size than adults do. Second-hand smoke affects their developing respiratory, immune and nervous systems.

In the United States, the Surgeon General recently released a report on the profound impact of second-hand smoke on children, revealing that kids exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia, middle ear infections, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms and slowed growth of the lungs. The report concludes that there simply is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke; even brief exposures can prove harmful.

There is growing evidence as well that kids who are exposed to second-hand smoke in the womb and as infants have more behavioural problems, shorter attention spans, and lower marks than peers who aren’t exposed to smoke.

Since babies and children are powerless to protect themselves from this risk, The Canadian Lung Association is asking Canadians to take a stand with the “Clean Air for Kids” lobby. “This campaign is about protecting Canada’s children from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke,” said Nora Sobolov, president of The Lung Association. “Working together with Canadians, we are confident that action can be taken to ensure kids are not subjected to smoking in cars.”

What can you do? If you want to send a message directly to your provincial or territorial representative, visit The Lung Association.

Related:
• Discussion: Smoking outside “still harms kids”
• The dangers of third-hand smoke
• 15 ways to clean up your home’s air

First published in Breathing Space, a supplement of Allergic Living magazine.

Third-hand smoke can harm infants and babies

Even if a person makes an effort to avoid second-hand fumes by smoking alone or out a car window, they are still endangering others, especially kids. Small children are exposed to third-hand smoke when they are held by someone who was smoking, through breathing in smoke particles on hair and clothes. When they crawl or play on contaminated surfaces, their hands may pick up toxic residue, which ends up in their mouths.

Babies and children are particularly vulnerable to third-hand smoke because they breathe faster than adults and thus absorb more of the harmful chemicals. Their immature immune systems also make small children less able to fight off toxic pollution.

The term “third-hand smoke” garnered media attention when it appeared in a recent study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Study authors surveyed 1,500 U.S. households to learn about attitudes toward the health risks of third-hand smoke. They found that 65 per cent of non-smokers and 43 per cent of smokers surveyed agreed that this kind of residual smoke can harm children.

Third-hand smoke avoidance

•   Don’t allow smoking in your home and car. Remember that opening a window, running a fan or air purifier, or smoking near the chimney will not get rid of second- or third-hand smoke.

•   Keep your child away from any place where people usually smoke – even if they don’t smoke while your child is there.

•   If you smoke – quit. Your child will be healthier if you do.

•   If you won’t quit smoking, smoke outdoors. Wash your hands after smoking.

•   If you live with a smoker, support the person’s efforts to quit.

Related:
• Smoking in cars puts kids at risk
• All you need to know about asthma
• What to do when you think you have asthma

First published in Breathing Space, a supplement of Allergic Living magazine, Spring 2009 edition.
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