DuPage County Health Department Tobacco Web Site

Did you know that…

Approximately 31.3 million (11.2%) Americans are of Latin American or other Spanish descent. Hispanics are the nation's second largest racial/ethnic group, behind non-Hispanic whites. ¹

In the general U.S. population, cigarette smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease and premature death. Smoking is related to a variety of health problems, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases. ²

Secondhand smoke causes approximately 3,400 lung cancer deaths and 22,700-69,900 heart disease deaths annually, among adult nonsmokers. ³ This is significant for Latinos since the leading causes of death for this population include heart disease, cancer (especially lung cancer), and pulmonary respiratory problems ²

Tobacco Use Among Hispanics

In 1997, 20.4 percent of Latino adults smoked cigarettes. ⁴

One third of Hispanic high school students reported being current cigarette smokers. ⁵

Aside from level of acculturation, a number of social, economic, and psychosocial factors have contributed to worrisome patterns of tobacco consumption, morbidity, and mortality among Latinos. These include poverty, education, alcohol use, mental health issues, access to healthcare, and targeted advertising. ⁶

For the Love of My Family promotes a smoke-free space within the home and in the car. It recognizes and respects the value of a Hispanic mother's influence in her home and among her family. This affection and concern can be expressed by setting guidelines that will protect and benefit the family.

It is important to remember that no level of exposure to secondhand smoke is safe. ⁷

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Secondhand Smoke Facts:

*Also called environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), passive, or involuntary smoke.
*It is a mixture of the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. ⁷
*It contains more than 4,000 substances. Many of them that are dangerous poisons and can cause cancer. ⁷
*It is a Group A carcinogen, proven to cause cancer in humans. ³

The Health Consequences of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General - summary

Secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults that do not smoke.
Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems, and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in their children.
Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
Scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk free level of exposure to SHS.
Millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to SHS in their homes and workplaces despite substantial progress in tobacco control.
Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to SHS; separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to SHS.

References:

1. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census
2. Aguirre-Molina, M et al (ed.) Health Issues in the Latino Community.2001
3. Environmental Protection Agency
4. Centers for Disease Control
5. CDC 1999 youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
6. National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT)
7. American Lung Association

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