Secondhand Smoke Research Paper

Words: 817
Pages: 4

Imagine your child, now age 23, calling you and telling you that they have severe asthma, or even worse, lung cancer, caused from your secondhand smoke. You would feel awful. Secondhand smoke contains the same chemicals as the primary smoke. It is not only setting a bad example for your children, it poses many risks in your child's health. Many parents do not think, or even realize, that their secondhand smoke is really affecting their children, or how bad it is actually affecting them, but the truth is chilling. Although many people think it may be a bit too harsh, smoking around children in an enclosed area such as your house or car, should be punishable. Contrary to what you may believe there are actually two different forms of secondhand smoke. Side stream smoke, which is Smoke from the lighted end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar, and there is Mainstream smoke. Mainstream smoke is the smoke that is exhaled by the smoker. Mainstream smoke is less toxic than sidestream smoke because sidestream smoke has a higher concentration of cancer-causing agent, also known as carcinogens. When a non-smoker is exposed to secondhand smoke it is often called involuntary smoking or passive smoking. Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemical compounds. More than 250 of these chemicals are known to …show more content…
Granted, that does not have the health risks as if your child was standing next to you or you were smoking inside, the scent is still there. I would agree that you should not be punished for smoking outside without your children, as that is harsh since your children are not really affected by it. Like stated before, all of this could be stopped or reduced with a penalty or consequence such as a