Second Hand Cigarette Smoke- Could Surgical Smoke Compare?

The following excerpts regarding second hand smoke caution the general public about the dangers of second-hand smoke. Considering there are many similarities between surgical smoke and cigarette smoke, operating room personnel should definitely give this a good read!

The Surgeon Generals report's major conclusions: The scientific evidence is indisputable that secondhand smoke causes premature death and serious diseases in both adults and children who do not smoke. As Surgeon General Richard Carmona stated, "The debate is over. The science is clear. Secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance but a serious health hazard."

There is no risk-free level of exposure: Recent findings led the U.S. Surgeon General to issue a health warning in late June 2006 emphasizing that secondhand smoke is both “toxic and poisonous.” Secondhand smoke contains poisonous gases and chemicals, including carbon monoxide (commonly found in car exhaust), ammonia (used in household cleaners), toluene (found in paint thinners), and hydrogen cyanide (used in chemical weapons). Toxic metals in secondhand smoke include arsenic (used in pesticides), lead (formerly found in paint), chromium (used to make steel), and cadmium (used to make batteries). The Surgeon General’s warning concluded that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke; even short exposure can cause blood platelets to become stickier, damage the lining of blood vessels, and reduce heart rate variability, which may increase the risk of heart attack.

It only takes five minutes: Most people assume that they must be exposed to secondhand smoke for a long time before it can actually cause harm, but this is not true. According to the Centers for Disease Control, just five minutes of exposure stiffens the aorta as much as smoking a cigarette. Twenty minutes of exposure is equal to smoking a pack a day, for it activates blood platelets involved in the clotting process and increases the risk of heart attack. Thirty minutes of exposure causes stiffened, clogged arteries and compromises the blood’s ability to manage LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. And two hours of exposure can speed up the heart rate and reduce heart rate variability, increasing the chance of an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) that can itself be fatal or trigger a heart attack. These health effects can take as long as 48 hours to reverse themselves. All of these effects increase the long-term risk of heart disease and the immediate risk of heart attack. A study from the University of California at San Francisco showed disturbing results as well: After being exposed to 15 cigarettes in a closed room for one hour, even healthy men experienced stiffness of the aortic arteries – some after only four minutes.

Sources:
http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/reports/shs/



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