Facts about Secondhand Smoke

Secondhand Smoke is Dangerous, Especially for Children

• Secondhand smoke is what smokers breathe out. It contains cancer-causing chemicals.
• Because their small bodies, lungs, and brains are still developing, unborn babies, infants and children are more at risk from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
• Children who breathe secondhand smoke are more likely to get colds, allergies, asthma and ear infections. Babies of parents who smoke are twice as likely to die from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• Children of smoking parents have 70% more respiratory (breathing) problems, are hospitalized more often, and miss more days of school than children not exposed to smoke.

Our Community is at Higher Risk

• There are higher rates of smoking overall in North Minneapolis than elsewhere in Hennepin County (2002 SHAPE survey)
• 21% of people in North Minneapolis report frequent or daily exposure to secondhand smoke in homes where children under 18 are present (2002 SHAPE survey)
• 31% of pregnant women in North Minneapolis reported smoking in the last 30 days (2005 NorthPoint Healthy Start data)

African Americans are Targeted by Tobacco Companies

• The start of slavery in America can be directly linked to the start of tobacco production in this country.
• Even though most African Americans no longer work the tobacco fields, tobacco companies find ways to tempt blacks to smoke more. Tobacco use is a modern-day form of slavery.
• The African American community is targeted for tobacco ads more than other ethnic groups.
• Smoking is a major link to heart disease, cancer and stroke in African Americans.