Green Glossary: Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand smoke, as defined by the American Lung Association, is a "mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe or cigar and the smoke exhaled from the lungs of smokers. It is involuntarily inhaled by nonsmokers, lingers in the air hours after cigarettes have been extinguished and can cause or exacerbate a wide range of adverse health effects, including cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma."

HowStuffWorks.com explains that secondhand smoke is known by a variety of names, including "environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), passive smoking, and involuntary smoking. By definition, secondhand smoke is 'sidestream smoke' (smoke from the burning end of a lit cigarette) or 'mainstream smoke' (smoke that is exhaled from the lungs of a smoker)."

No matter what you call it, secondhand smoke has a dangerously negative impact on all of us?especially kids?and it's crucial we find ways to protect ourselves and our loved ones.