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Smoking and cancer: Second-hand smoke

Breathing in other people's smoke is bad for your health. Every year several hundred people in the UK die from lung cancer caused by second-hand smoke.

For more information about the evidence that links second-hand smoke to cancer, go to our How do we know section.

Second-hand smoke and children

Second-hand smoke is particularly dangerous for children because their bodies are still developing. Smoking when you are with your children can increase their risk of cot death, glue ear and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and chest infections.

Over forty percent of children in the UK live in a household where at least one person smokes. If you are a smoker, try not to expose your child to your smoke. The NHS 'If you smoke, I smoke' campaign is raising awareness of this issue.

Smoking in the workplace

Over half of employees in the UK are exposed to tobacco smoke at work. Their health is being put at risk even though employers have a duty to maintain a safe working environment. Find out more about smoking at work on our public policy pages.

What can you do about second-hand smoke?

Smokers have a responsibility to protect others from their smoke. Try to:

• keep your home smoke free
• sit in non-smoking areas in pubs and restaurants
• ban smoking in the car (smoke is more concentrated in confined spaces)
• talk to your employer about their smoking policy.

What can the government do?

Cancer Research UK supports legislation to ban smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public places. Most members of the public would also support new laws to restrict smoking in public:

• 86% say that smoking should be restricted at work
• 88% say that smoking should be restricted in restaurants
• 54% say that smoking should be restricted in pubs.

In February 2006, MPs voted by a massive majority to make public spaces, including pubs and private members' clubs, smokefree. This move will help to protect workers from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and has been hailed as a large advance in public health.

Our Policy section has more information on the vote for smokefree public places, Cancer Research UK's view on smokefree legislation, and the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Come and help us celebrate the new smoke-free laws in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.