Second-Hand Smoke

Second hand smoke. We all know that smoking is bad for your lungs and that it's dangerous. Most of us even know that it is dangerous to those around us, even if those people have never smoked anything in their lives. We've grown up around smoking, we've seen it on tv, in the paper, movies, magazines, ads, etc. etc. However, not many people realize how big of an effect it is actually having on our environment in addition to our bodies. "Second-hand smoke contains approximately 4 000 chemicals, including 50 carcinogenic agents." That is an extreame amount and people are willing to not only smoke but harm those around them with the second hand smoke they exhale. Most smokers believe that they are old enough to decide for themselves if they want to smoke. I personally have a step mother, grandfather, three uncles, grandmother, and two aunts that smoke and are all willing to do so in front of their kids and grandkids. What most people don't realize however, is that they are causing a great deal of harm to others and their environment as well. All of the chemicals found in second hand smoke are not good for anyone or anything. What is interesting, as well as disturbing is that the chemicals that are inhaled by the smoker, are the same chemicals in the secondhad smoke, however, the concentration levels are different. Combustion is not complete for the active smoker, therefore they do not get as high of a concentration of chemicals as those who are unfortunate enough to breathe in the exhaled combusted chemicals of the second handsmoke. "Concentration is 100 times higher!! Second-hand smoke contains six times more nicotine, three times more tar and seventy-three times more ammonia than the smoke inhaled by the actual smoker!!!!" It's amazing how big of an effect someone elses choices can have on you but it's good to be informed of the negitive side effects that this kind of pollution is causing.