SECOND HAND SMOKING-3

Second-hand smoke – It’s a Chemical Soup

SEE IT FOR WHAT IT IS !

These are just some of the many chemicals left lingering in the air from second-hand smoke

CARBON MONOXIDE Reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen to human tissues.   TOLUENE Highly toxic; causes tremors, destroys nervous system ↓   FORMALDEHYDE Causes cancer, and can damage your lungs, skin and digestive tract; used to preserve dead bodies. ↓

LEAD Causes serious damage to the brain, kidneys, nervous system and red blood cells. Absorbed very quickly into children, causing severe damage.↓ ARSENIC Deadly poison.↓   ACETONE Exposure to vapours causes eye and nose irritation.↓

AMMONIA Added to tobacco to help absorb more nicotine - keeping you hooked on tobacco.↓   BENZENE Causes leukemia; known cancer causing substance.↓

CADMIUM Damages liver, kidneys and stays in the body for years; excreted in breast milk.↓ NICOTINE An active ingredient in bug spray.↓   BENZOAPYRENE One of the most potent cancer-causing chemicals in the world.↓	PROPYLENE GLYCOL Tobacco companies claim they add it to keep tobacco from drying out.↓ BUTANE Affects the nervous system.↓

You wouldn't leave these products lying about - don't let second-hand smoke POISON your air!

Would you be comfortable handling these chemicals?  Here are some of the chemical compounds found in second-hand smoke:

• Arsenic -- a deadly poison used for pest control.
   
• Ammonia -- used in household cleaners.  Added to tobacco to help absorb more nicotine and to keep you hooked on tobacco.
   
• Nicotine -- one of the most addictive substances in the world.  Eight of ten people who start smoking become addicted. 
   
• Benzene -- causes Leukemia.  A known cancer-causing substance that has been declared toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, and is believed to harm you at any level.
   
• Formaldehyde -- causes cancer and can damage your lungs, skin and digestive tract. Is used to preserve dead bodies.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has officially labelledsecond-hand smoke a “Class A” cancer-causing substance.  Class A is considered the most dangerous of cancer agents and there is no safe level of exposure.