Secondhand smoke. More than annoying. A public health emergency.

Tell us: How has secondhand smoke impacted you?

The facts: There is no safe level of exposure

• In 2006 the Surgeon General issued a report titled “The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Secondhand Smoke." The report outlines the dangers associated with secondhand smoke.
• Secondhand smoke questions and answers from the National Cancer Institute
• Secondhand smoke fact sheet from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Learn more and share your thoughts about:

Tobacco-free worksites
Smoke-free living
Tobacco-free schools

Tell us: How has secondhand smoke impacted you?   

Read what others have said about secondhand smoke

Comments submitted:

I have 3 children ages 10, 5, and 3; my oldest has asthma and absolutely cannot be around cigarette smoke which limits some of the things that we can do in Northern Kentucky. We have learned which restaurants are totally smoke free and we only frequent those that are. It is so frustrating to have to walk through people's cigarette smoke just to get inside some buildings, even that small exposure could make it difficult for my son to breathe. I would be very happy if Northern KY would follow Ohio and other states and make a law that would make most public places smoke free. --Emily

I have asthma and second hand smoke prevents me from eating at some places. Recently we went to dine at a local establishment and the SHS at the door stopped my breathing so that we had to leave and go home immediately. --Edward

I am a recovering lung cancer patient. I work for a company that refuses to be proactive in public health. When I enter our building you must walk through a cloud of smoke to get to my office. Try holding your breath when you have no breath to hold. --Cheryl
 

As a child, both my parents smoked in the house, car (windows up). All my friends smoked, my boyfriend, etc. In short, I did not know anyone who did not smoke until I was an adult. When I was 22, I was admitted to the hospital for seven days with asthma. Since then I've been admitted six times, and have been ill with asthma multiple more times that did not require hospital treatment. I now have a lung disease, that is triggered by other's smoking. I have many triggers--air freshener, secondhand smoke, car exhaust. But all in all, I would have love to not have asthma. Prevention is best, so if you smoke around your kids, please STOP. My mom and dad both said over and over that if they only knew they would have never smoked, or at least not around me. Every time I'm sick, I know they feel responsible, and I feel sad for them about that. --Tonya

It would be great if the restaurants in Covington would discontinue smoking indoors - it is tough to enjoy a meal with the taste of smoke in your mouth. Because of the smoke, we find ourselves going across the river when we choose to eat out and this is a bummer since there are some really great places to eat in Covington. --Sherry

I am a lead singer in a band called CODA. Because Northern Kentucky allows smoking, we just don't try to get gigs in Kentucky. We have found that our followers desire to go places where there is no smoke. That will be their first question when given our schedule. 'Do they have smoking?' Besides, smoke does a number on our voices while we are singing and also we can tell a difference the next day. It's time for a change in Northern Kentucky. --Chuck

I can not go to any establishment in Northern Kentucky that has smoking because just one cigarette in the room sets my asthma off. I go to Ohio for a lot of my outings because I know the entire state is smoke free. --Rita
 

I have asthma and it can cause me not to be able to breathe. I feel like I will die if someone lights up a cigarette. --Pamela
 

So many people today realize their health problems stem from secondhand smoke. Let’s change some of the things we can change in life. Let's have some clean air for us to breathe when we go out in the evening to eat or go out for an evening of dancing.  --Jazzy

My wife had lived with cancer for 13 years. It hard to watch some on die from cancer. --Don
 

My father-in-law died of lung cancer. He was a non-smoker but he worked two or three nights a week for several years at his church's bingo hall where smoking was allowed. --Kathy

I receive secondhand smoke in my office at work through an outside air vent. People smoke in what is supposed to be a no-smoking zone directly in front of the air in-take vents that pump outside air into offices and classrooms. The smoke coming into my office often gives me a sore throat and watery eyes.  My workplace has attempted to combat this problem by posting signs in the area but this has not yet solved the problem.  I am told that nothing can be done to change the venting system. --Diana

I am extremely sensitive to smoke - even outdoors. The slightest exposure will make me nauseous and give me a splitting headache for hours. There is no way to avoid this exposure - and unfortunately, because most think that smoke has no effects when outdoors, I have to avoid places where people smoke outdoors, which cuts out a lot of places I would like to go such as many outdoor concerts and restaurants with outdoor dining areas (that allow smoking). --Liz

I do not understand why physical assault is illegal, but assaulting someone's health with secondhand smoke is perfectly acceptable - in fact, it's a "smoker's right." I live in Northern Kentucky but do not support any smoking establishments - which means I spend most of my money in Ohio. Would love to be able to support local businesses -  please just get rid of the smoke! --Ted
 

I moved to Kentucky 6 months ago. My family wanted too go out and bowl one weekend and maybe find a game room were we could just have some fun. The local bowling ally is just down the street and we went in and the smell of second hand smoke just ran us out of the place. We now have to go to Ohio to find smoke-free family fun. I have a few other places I have walked into and just backed out because of smoke. I moved here from Texas were I never had that problem. Smoke-free, please. --David

I have asthma. Every time I am around an establishment that allows smoking I have an asthma attack. Saturday night was one of those evenings. I went out to hear a band play with some of my friends. As soon as I walked in, I was affected.  Is it fair that I have to stay away and give up a fun evening because other people insist on blowing that second hand smoke and endangering my health?  I had to leave about 20 friends. One friend walked out with me and wouldn't let me drive until she felt that I was safe to be behind the wheel of my car. The past four times I have gone out to eat, I have gone to Ohio. I don't have to worry because it is smoke free and I don't have to search out a place that is smoke free. I can't wait until Northern Kentucky is totally smoke free. --Rita

I smoked for 20 years or more but was told by my doctor I had to quit due to health problems. Now I cannot tolerate being around any smoke which will cause me to have trouble breathing, coughing etc. This is especially annoying in restaurants because it not only causes the above but it destroys my appetite.  Their right to smoke should not trump my right to breath clean air. Separating smokers from nonsmokers in different sides of the room does nothing....Children should not be forced to be around people smoking either. My grandson has asthma and can't tolerate it either. I watched my mother die of COPD because she smoked all her life. --Billie

We are condo owners in a unit directly above heavy smokers. It has affected us, but we can't afford to move. --Kathy

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