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Smoking in The Home
Your home should be the safest place for your family, but smoking indoors creates hidden dangers for everyone who shares the space. Second-hand smoke affects children, adults, pets, and even visitors, putting their health at risk. It’s not just about the smoker—smoking indoors impacts everyone in the home.
What's The Issue?
Invisible Smoke, Real Dangers
Did you know that 80% of cigarette smoke is invisible? It lingers in the air long after the cigarette is stubbed out, clinging to furniture, walls, and even soft toys. This means your family is still breathing in harmful chemicals, long after the smoke seems to disappear.
Second-hand Smoke
Second-hand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, including at least 50 that cause cancer. Breathing in this smoke increases the risk of serious illnesses for everyone, especially children and pets who have smaller lungs and developing bodies
Third-Hand Smoke
Even when you can’t see or smell it, harmful chemicals settle on surfaces like sofas, carpets, and curtains. These “third-hand” smoke particles can still harm health, particularly for babies and young children who crawl, touch, and put things in their mouths.
Why It Matters?
Health Risks Children
Children are especially vulnerable to smoke in the home. Their lungs are still developing, and they breathe faster than adults, meaning they inhale more toxins. Smoke exposure can cause:
- Asthma attacks and chest infections, including pneumonia.
- Glue ear, leading to hearing problems.
- Increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies.
Health Risks Pets
Pets can’t escape the smoke. Living in a smoking environment increases their risk of:
- Cancers, including lung and nasal cancers.
- Skin allergies and respiratory problems.
Generational Impact:
Children exposed to SHS at home are 70% more likely to become smokers themselves, perpetuating cycles of addiction and poor health outcomes.
Fire Hazards:
Smoking-related fires remain a leading cause of accidental deaths in homes across the UK. In Wales, 163 house fires in 2022 were caused by smoking materials, underscoring the importance of keeping cigarettes out of the home. Every year, someone dies from a cigarette fire every three days.
Economic Costs:
Passive smoking in children leads to 300,000 GP consultations and 9,500 hospital admissions annually across the UK, costing the NHS millions.
How You Can Help
Creating a smokefree home starts with small, simple steps:
Step Outside
The simplest way to protect your loved ones is to smoke outdoors. It reduces the risk of harm from second- and third-hand smoke.
Start the Conversation
Talk to family and friends about the risks of smoking indoors. Encourage smoke-free living for the benefit of everyone in the home.
Use Our Tools
We’ve created guides and tips to make your home smoke-free, whether you’re quitting or simply moving the habit outside.
Join Our Campaigns
Help us spread the message by sharing our materials and encouraging others to create smoke-free homes.
If you’re a housing provider or landlord, download our Smokefree Guide to learn how you can support tenants in making their homes healthier.
Key Stats
- 22% of children aged 10–11 in Wales live in homes where at least one parent smokes indoors.
- Children exposed to second-hand smoke are 50% more likely to develop respiratory infections.
- The NHS treats 300,000 children each year for illnesses caused by second-hand smoke, costing £23 million annually.
- Second-hand smoke increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smokers by 20–30% and heart disease by 25–35%.
Quit Smoking with Help Me Quit
Access free support, including one-to-one sessions and nicotine replacement therapies, to help you quit smoking and create a healthier home environment.
Passive Smoking NHS
Discover the risks of second-hand smoke exposure and learn practical ways to make your home and car smokefree.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Smoking in the Home
Learn how smoking indoors increases the risk of house fires and how to reduce the danger.
Passive Smoking Asthma and Lung UK
Understand the health risks of second-hand smoke for children, including respiratory issues and ear infections.
PDSA Second-Hand Smoke on Pets
Explore how smoking in the home affects pets, increasing their risk of cancers and respiratory issues.
Healthy Air For Every Child UNICEF
Learn about the global and local impacts of air pollution on children and how families can act to protect young lives.
Support Our Work
Your support helps us create impactful campaigns and provide free resources to schools and communities across Wales. Every donation brings us closer to a smoke-free generation.
