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Overview
In late June 2006, the Surgeon General released a new report  addressing the adverse health effects attributed to secondhand tobacco smoke. Dr. Richard Carmona, the Surgeon General of the United States, announced the report’s publication at a recent press conference, which drew national news coverage. 1-4
The report, entitled The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke , is an update of a 1986 Surgeon General report on the risks of exposure to secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smoke or “passive smoking.” The report identifies secondhand smoke as “a serious public health hazard” that poses “significant risks for people with lung and heart disease.” While the report suggests that progress has been made over the past decade with reducing secondhand smoke exposure in the general public, nearly one in four children are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes.
The following are some of the report’s primary conclusions:
- Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and in adults who do not smoke.
- Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
- The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
As Dr. Carmona noted in his press conference, the new report offers “indisputable” evidence that involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke is unsafe. The report found a causal relationship between secondhand smoke exposure and lung cancer among lifetime nonsmokers, and suggestive evidence that passive smoking may increase risks for nasal sinus cavity carcinomas. The report also concludes that ventilation systems and the designation of separate smoking sections (in restaurants and other public places) do not provide adequate protection against the adverse health effects of secondhand smoke.
Exposure to secondhand smoke, a known human carcinogen, is now well established as a risk factor for lung cancer and coronary heart disease in nonsmokers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Cancer Society , illnesses attributed to involuntary tobacco exposure account for approximately 38,000 deaths each year. The Surgeon General’s report identifies secondhand smoke exposure as a cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), impaired lung growth, severe asthma attacks and other respiratory problems. Although not included in the Surgeon General’s report, previous research has linked secondhand smoke exposure with higher rates of dental caries in primary teeth. 5
Dentists are encouraged to warn patients about the risks of exposure to secondhand smoke and to promote tobacco cessation. The Surgeon General’s report recommends comprehensive smoke-free policies as the most effective public-health approach to reduce exposure of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke. The Association supports the enactment and enforcement of legislation and regulations to reduce the exposure of nonsmoking adults and children to environmental tobacco smoke.
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Footnotes
1 O’Neil J. A warning on hazards of secondhand smoke. The New York Times, June 28, 2006. Available at: “http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/28/health/28smoke.html? ex=1151726400&en=36fd7ec834f0f063&ei=5087%0A”. Accessed June 29, 2006.
2 Neergaard L. Surgeon general warns of secondhand smoke. Associated Press, June 27, 2006. Available at: “http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/INVOLUNTARY_SMOKING?SITE=VACHA&SECTION=
HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT”. Accessed June 29, 2006.
3 Kaufman M. U.S. details dangers of secondhand smoking. The Washington Post, June 28, 2006. Available at: “http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/27 /AR2006062700710.html“. Accessed June 29, 2006.
4 Secondhand smoke a threat to all, Surgeon General warns. HealthDay News, June 27, 2006. Available at: “http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=533493”. Accessed July 5, 2006.
5 Secondhand smoke, caries linked in children. Journal of the American Dental Association, July 2003. Available at: “http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content/full/134/7/826“. [Original study is available at: Aligne CA, Moss ME, Auinger P, Weitzman M. Association of pediatric dental caries with passive smoking. JAMA 2003 Mar 12;289(10):1258-64.]
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Additional Resources
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Science in the News is a service by the American Dental Association (ADA) to present current information about science topics in the news. The ADA is a professional association of dentists committed to the public's oral health, ethics, science and professional advancement; leading a unified profession through initiatives in advocacy, education, research and the development of standards. As a science-based organization, the ADA's evaluation of the scientific evidence may change as more information becomes available. Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
Document Posted July 2006
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