Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful. The Surgeon General has concluded that the only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of secondhand smoke is through 100% smoke-free environments.

It is an deep rooted problem in many parts of the world, especially in developing countries where the majority of cigarettes are smoked and in places where public bans have nor or cannot be enforced, like in China. One survey estimated that 79 percent of Europeans over age 15 were exposed to second-hand smoke. Recent data from South Africa shows that 64 percent of children below age five in Soweto live with at least one smoker in the house.

The problem with smoking is that smokers do not only put themselves at risk but also the people around them. The smoke that is exhaled from a smoker or trails off from the tip of the cigarette is called environmental smoke, and breathing in these fumes is known as passive smoking or second hand smoking