Ever been around someone who is smoking? The unpleasant smell and smoke drifting near you is a serious health risk. Even being near a person who is lighting a cigarette is unhealthy. Second hand smoke (SHS) is also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). It contains two forms of smoke- mainstream and side stream. Mainstream smoke comes from the smoker blowing out smoke after taking a puff. Side stream is smoke from the lighted end of a cigarette. This contains several minute cancer causing agents making it even more dangerous than main stream smoke as the particles enter the lungs easily.

Passive smoking is when a non-smoker is exposed to SHS. Non-smokers who breathe in SHS take in the same amounts of nicotine and toxic chemicals as the smokers do. The more SHS you breathe, the higher the levels of these harmful chemicals in your body. It is estimated that there are 7000 toxins in SHS. The International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded in 2004 that "Involuntary smoking (exposure to second hand or 'environmental' tobacco smoke) is carcinogenic to humans."

Those inhaling SHS on a regular basis are at risk of cardiovascular diseases, heart attacks and strokes. Young children are at a greater risk if a parent or adult smokes in the home environment. The child can be affected with bronchitis, cough, wheezing, asthma, low resistance and shortness of breath.

India became a Party to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on February 27, 2005. In India, by law smoking is banned from public places, the sale of tobacco products around schools and educational institutions are punishable by law. However, you don't have to wait for the government to act. Be responsible. Stay away from those who smoke. A clean smoke free public or office environment is your right. Do not pay the price for someone else's bad habit. It may be second hand smoke, but it carries first hand risks!