Passive smoking

What is passive smoking?

Passive or second-hand smoking occurs when a non-smoker breathes in second-hand tobacco smoke. This can come from other people’s:

• cigarettes
• vapes
• cigars
• pipes

Passive smoking can happen when you are in the same: room, house, car or public place as someone who is smoking.

Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals. This includes about 70 substances that can cause cancer. Even small amounts of smoke are harmful.

Passive smoke can damage the health of anyone who breathes it in. This is especially true for: babies, children and pregnant women.

Passive smoking is never safe.

Where does second-hand smoke come from?

Passive smoke comes from:

• the burning ends of cigarettes, cigars or pipes
• the smoke that the smoker breathes out

How does passive smoking affect your health?

Passive smoking can cause or worsen the following conditions and diseases:

• cancer
• heart disease
• asthma

Passive smoking and pregnancy, babies and children

In pregnant women, passive smoking can:

• affect the growth and health of your baby
• affect the lung development of your baby
• increase the risk of premature birth
• increase the risk of stillbirth

Babies and children exposed to passive smoking may develop illnesses such as:

• asthma
• middle ear infections
• bronchitis
• croup
• bronchiolitis
• pneumonia
• behaviour problems — like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

In babies, passive smoking can contribute to sudden infant death syndrome, possibly because chemicals from the smoke affect the brain and interfere with breathing.

Children of parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves.

Babies and children are at risk from passive smoking because they can’t control their environment.

What can I do as a parent or carer?

If you are a smoker the best thing you can do is think about quitting.

You can also:

• keep your house smoke free
• keep your car smoke free
• make sure that your family, friends and other carers don’t smoke around your children
• teach your children to stay away from second-hand smoke

How does second-hand smoke affect my pet?

Research has shown that second-hand smoke has similar effects on the health of pets to those seen in people.

How to reduce your exposure to passive smoke

The only way to totally protect people from second-hand smoke is not to allow smoking in homes and other indoor spaces.

To protect yourself and your children, keep your home smoke-free.

Ask your partner, family or friends to smoke or vape outside. It isn’t enough for them to go to another room, as smoke can move through your house.

Encourage the smoker to quit. Even smoke particles on their clothes can harm people.

How does the law protect me from passive smoke?

In Australia, it’s illegal to smoke in enclosed public places including:

• on public transport — trains, planes and buses
• in office buildings
• in shopping malls
• in schools
• cinemas
• in airports

In all states and territories, it is illegal to smoke in a car with a minor. A minor is someone under the age of 16, 17 or 18. The age depends on the state or territory you are in.

State and territory governments are mainly responsible for smoke-free laws in Australia. Smoke-free laws:

• protect you from second-hand smoke
• encourage you to quit smoking

You can check your state’s legislation to ban smoking in public spaces for the latest information.

In most states and territories, you can’t use e-cigarettes in public places where smoking is banned.

What can I do about second-hand smoke if I am a smoker?

To protect non-smokers from your smoke:

• at home, smoke outdoors
• never smoke in the car
• don’t smoke near playgrounds or other places where there are children or pregnant women
• stay down-wind of people in parks or picnic spots
• respect other people’s right to a smoke-free environment

Do vapes create second-hand smoke?

Passive vaping comes from the vapour that is breathed out. There is no smoke released from the vape itself.

The vapour contains water and:

• volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde and acetaldehyde
• metals
• fine and ultrafine particles

These toxic substances may increase your chance of heart disease, lung disease, and cancer.

Passive vaping also contains other chemicals such as:

• propylene glycol
• glycerol
• flavourings

It’s not known if these substances are safe to inhale.

Short-term exposure to passive vaping has been shown to:

• irritate eyes
• irritate airways
• worsen respiratory conditions

Since 1 October 2021, you need a prescription to buy nicotine containing e‑cigarette products for any purpose. This includes importing these products from overseas.