Tobacco Smoke
in Cars |
Children are most often exposed to secondhand and thirdhand smoke in two places: the home and the car.
In Connecticut:
Smoking in a vehicle quickly causes the concentration of secondhand smoke to reach dangerously high levels and poses serious health risks for children and adults.
Studies have found that the concentration of secondhand smoke is greater in vehicles than in any other environment including a smoker’s home and smoke-filled bars, even when the vehicle’s windows are open and the fan is set on high. 4Thirdhand smoke particles settle into the upholstery and other surfaces in the car and then gets kicked back up into the car’s air exposing passengers to toxins even after days or months from the cigarette being put out.5 How to Protect You and Your Family
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Concentrations of secondhand smoke in a car: 2
No ventilation: Fully ventilated: |
ONE SMOKER EMITS 50 TIMES MORE FINE PARTICLES INTO A CAR THAN THOSE EMITTED PER-MILE BY A CAR’S TAILPIPE.6 [1] 2009 CT SHS Youth Tobacco Component [2] 2009 CT SHS Youth Tobacco Component [3] http://www.publichealthlawcenter.org/sites/default/files/resources/phlc-policybrief-kidscarssmoke-2010_0.pdf4 http://www.pub3chealthlawcenter.org/sites/default/files/resources/phlc-policybrief-kidscarssmoke-2010_0.pdf