Environmental Tobacco Smoke

Definition:
Also known as secondhand smoke, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a combination of diluted sidestream smoke and mainstream smoke.

Dilution of sidestream smoke is dependent on several factors:

• room volume
• air exchange
• temperature
• humidity
• number of people in the room

Research has shown that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Breathing in ETS contributes to a wide variety of diseases, including heart disease and many cancers.

See also:
"Secondhand Smoke Facts"
"Secondhand Smoke and Children"