Car and home smoke free zone

Last updated: 29 September 2007

What is the passive smoking?

Passive smoking is breathing in other people's smoke. It affects smokers and non-smokers. The process of smoking produces three different types of tobacco smoke:

1. Mainstream smoke
Smoke directly inhaled by the smoker through a burning cigarette, cigar or pipe.

2. Exhaled mainstream smoke
Smoke breathed out by the smoker.

3. Sidestream smoke
Smoke which drifts from the burning end of a cigarette. Sidestream smoke contains many cancer causing chemicals and other toxic substances. In some cases, their levels are 30 times higher than in the smoke inhaled by the smoker. For example, compared to mainstream smoke, sidestream smoke contains greater amounts of ammonia, benzene, carbon monoxide, nicotine and some carcinogens from the same amount of burnt tobacco.

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is the combination of exhaled mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke.

Effects of passive smoking

The health effects of exposure to passive smoking are well known. It increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease, as well as throat and chest infections.

Children are especially vulnerable to passive smoking. Passive smoking by infants is a risk factor for SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or cot death). The children of parents who smoke also have higher rates of lower respiratory illnesses such as croup, bronchitis, bronchiolitis and pneumonia during their first 18 months of life compared to children of non-smokers. Children in this age group exposed to tobacco smoke have higher rates
of admission to hospital.

Children of smokers also show a small lowering in lung function with some evidence indicating that this reduced ability of lung function may even persist into adulthood. Children exposed to passive smoking are more likely to suffer from asthma in childhood.

Children of smokers are more likely to contract 'glue ear' (otitis media), which is an infection and swelling of the ear. Passive smoking increases the risk of meningococcal disease among children, which can sometimes cause death, mental disability, hearing loss, or loss of a limb. Exposure to tobacco smoke also makes children more vulnerable to lung complications during and after surgery involving a general anaesthetic.

Going smoke free

Over 80 per cent of homes in NSW are now smoke-free and most enclosed public places in NSW are, by law, also smoke-free. Bans on smoking in your home and car will not only increase your chances of quitting successfully, but others will also benefit from less exposure to passive smoking.

To make your home smoke free:

• Get household members to agree on a date for the house to become smoke free.
• Remove ashtrays and lighters from indoor areas.
• Display no smoking stickers on the fridge and at the front door.
• Ask smokers to smoke outside when they visit.

To make your car smoke free:

• Clean out the ashtray and remove the cigarette lighter.
• Display 'no smoking' stickers on the dashboard or ashtray.

It is important to remember that strategies such as smoking in only one part of the house or blowing smoke out an open car window are not effective. There are invisible gases in tobacco smoke that spread quickly to all areas of the house and car. See the fact sheet Nicotine and other poisons for more information. To avoid exposure, make your car and home smoke free.

Household members

By obtaining agreement from everybody in the house, you can avoid disputes. It is important to consider:

• where smoking is permitted outside the house, eg on the balcony, in the garage etc
• how smokers will be reminded if they forget about the smoke free zones, eg a firm but polite reminder is usually sufficient.

Visitors

As 80 per cent of NSW homes are smoke free, a ban on smoking inside your house and car should be acceptable to most visitors. Clear communication is essential. Try:

• displaying 'no smoking' signs in your car and home
• explaining to your visitors why your car and home are smoke free
• setting a good example by refusing to smoke in the cars and homes of your friends and family.

More information and support

Phone the Better Health Centre for 'Car and Home Smoke Free Zone' stickers on (02) 9879 0443.

Further information is available from the Car and Home Smoke Free Zone website.

Related Links

• Nicotine and other poisons  http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/general/nicotine.html