secondhand smoke
Meaning of secondhand smoke: Secondhand smoke combines exhaled and burning tobacco smoke, inhaled involuntarily by nonsmokers who share the same air.
Definition of secondhand smoke
Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke released from the burning end of a lit tobacco product and the smoke exhaled by a person actively smoking. Both components disperse into the surrounding air, where they can be inhaled by others nearby who are not themselves smoking.
Breathing in secondhand smoke is referred to as involuntary or passive smoking, and the resulting exposure carries many of the same chemical byproducts found in the smoke inhaled directly by a smoker. This exposure can affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems of people who share indoor spaces with smokers, particularly with repeated or prolonged exposure.
Because secondhand smoke lingers in enclosed air and can settle onto surfaces, exposure can occur even without being in the same room as an actively burning product, part of why indoor smoking restrictions are intended to reduce exposure among nonsmokers sharing a building or vehicle.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The patient's history included significant secondhand smoke exposure from a household member who smoked.
Good to know
Secondhand smoke exposure is often assessed alongside a person's own smoking history, since it can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular symptoms even in someone who has never smoked directly.