Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Raising Awareness of National Cancer Prevention Month

National Cancer Prevention Month takes place during the month of February. It is a time to raise awareness of the many ways the public can lower their chances of developing cancer by avoiding exposure to carcinogens, including tobacco smoke.

According to some reports, more than 40% of all diagnosed cancers in the U. S. can be attributed to preventable causes. Tobacco smoke has long been recognized for its ability to cause lung cancer and other diseases. Tobacco smoke exposure doesn’t apply to just smokers. Back in 2014 the U.S. Surgeon General reported that each year, exposure to secondhand smoke causes more than 41,000 deaths from lung cancer and heart disease among non-smoking adults, and 400 deaths from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

This past December, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced in a news bulletin that progress in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke among U.S. nonsmokers has stalled in recent years, despite longstanding declines over the past three decades. The CDC’s Director was quoted as saying “we know there’s no safe level of secondhand smoke exposure.” The bulletin also shared the following figures:
 

• During 2011 - 2014, the percentage of nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke did not decline significantly across most demographic subgroups.
• Secondhand smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals including about 70 that can cause cancer. Secondhand smoke is a known cause of sudden infant death syndrome; respiratory infections; ear infections; and asthma attacks in infants and children; as well as heart disease, stroke and lung cancer in adult nonsmokers.
• An estimated 58 million American nonsmokers were still exposed to secondhand smoke from burning tobacco products during 2013 - 2014.
• Exposure to secondhand smoke remains high for certain groups, including children ages 3-11 years (38%), people living in poverty (48%) and people living in rental housing (39%).
• More than 3 in 10 nonsmokers with less than a high school education are exposed to secondhand smoke.
• More than 7 in 10 nonsmokers living with someone who smokes inside the home are exposed to secondhand smoke.

“People exposed to secondhand smoke, at home or in the work environment, should take note of the CDC’s bulletin about this exposure hazard,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Whether it’s from airborne gases, chemicals, particulate matter or due to contact with chemical residues on surfaces, exposure to secondhand smoke should be avoided. At EMSL, we offer environmental testing, air monitoring instruments and easy to use test kits to detect particulate matter, smoke and nicotine residues, and other airborne and surface contaminants.”

EMSL also recently sponsored an educational video about secondhand smoke exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/qWBcYpXpt4s.

To learn more about this or other indoor air quality (IAQ), occupational, environmental, health and safety testing services or air monitoring instruments, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail