"Not smoking doesn't guarantee protection from the dangers of tobacco smoke," says pulmonologist Davronbek Tursunov.

This video discusses passive smoking, its harmful effects on children, pregnant women, and the elderly, as well as information about the legal foundations for protection against tobacco smoke.

The smoke from tobacco exhaled by a person smoking near you is referred to by specialists as "secondhand smoke." It originates from two sources: the burning tobacco product and the smoker's exhalation. Inhaling air mixed with this smoke is known as "passive smoking." It is considered even more harmful than active smoking.

The reason is that tobacco smoke entering the air is typically not filtered. Filters in cigarettes protect the smoker only from some harmful substances. However, the smoke released from a burning cigarette contains a higher concentration of chemical compounds that those nearby inhale in greater volumes than the smoker themselves.

Tobacco smoke contains over 5,000 chemical substances, 69 of which are carcinogens capable of causing cancer, and at least 250 are cytotoxins that damage cellular tissues. Additionally, the smoke includes the following toxic substances:

• Benzene : a chemical compound found in gasoline.
• Ammonia : a component of household cleaning products.
• Toluene : a chemical substance found in paints.
• Cadmium : an element found in batteries.
• Formaldehyde : a chemical compound used in fertilizers, embalming fluids, and building materials.

The smoke leaves its mark

The toxic substances from cigarette, cigar, hookah, and other tobacco product smoke do not disappear without a trace. They settle on mucous membranes, skin, hair, clothing, and any surfaces, posing serious health threats to both smokers and those around them.

Smoke can linger in an enclosed space for 30 minutes to about 5 hours, depending on the number of products smoked, the size of the room, and the level of ventilation. In well-ventilated areas, it dissipates faster, while in poorly ventilated spaces, it remains longer. Residual tobacco smoke can travel between rooms through stairwells and ventilation systems.

Short-term and long-term effects

The harmful effects of tobacco smoke on the body begin within just 5 minutes. Initial symptoms include irritation of the respiratory tract, such as itching, burning, and sneezing. After 5 minutes, arteries lose their elasticity, which impedes normal blood flow and causes inflammation of the inner walls of the blood vessels.

Within 20-30 minutes of exposure to tobacco smoke, blood clotting begins and fat deposits accumulate in the vessels, increasing the risk of stroke. After two hours, arrhythmia may occur—an irregular heartbeat that can lead to a heart attack or other serious heart conditions.

Secondhand smoke has varying effects depending on an individual's health status and immune strength. According to pulmonologist Davronbek Tursunov, short-term exposure to smoke causes narrowing of the brain's blood vessels, leading to headaches. Other symptoms include mild coughing, shortness of breath, redness, and tearing of the eyes, as well as itching in the nose.

Long-term consequences include an increased risk of lung, laryngeal, throat, and esophageal cancer, ischemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and allergies. Furthermore, the toxins entering the body through passive smoking weaken the immune system, reducing its ability to fight infections and triggering chronic inflammatory processes. In adults, passive smoking increases the risk of stroke by 20-30% and the risk of developing ischemic heart disease by 25-30%.

Children are the most vulnerable

Tobacco smoke has a particularly strong toxic effect on children and infants. Their respiratory and immune systems are significantly weaker than those of adults and are not yet fully developed. A child's body is unable to effectively eliminate harmful substances, making them more vulnerable to the toxins in tobacco smoke.

• "Newborns breathe faster than adults. While adults typically take 16-20 breaths per minute, newborns (0-1 year) take 30-60 breaths, children aged 1 to 3 years take 24-40 breaths, and children aged 4 to 6 years take 20-30 breaths per minute. These figures indicate that small children exposed to passive smoking can absorb more toxic substances than adults," says pulmonologist Davronbek Tursunov.

The global report by the World Health Organization on the tobacco epidemic for 2023 states that approximately 1.3 million people worldwide die each year due to the consequences of passive smoking, including 165,000 children under the age of 5. Of all deaths related to secondhand tobacco smoke exposure, 47% are women, and 28% are children.

Toxic substances in secondhand tobacco smoke, such as nicotine and carbon monoxide, weaken the immune system in children and infants. According to the American Lung Association (ALA), exposure to passive smoking increases the risk of developing asthma in children by up to 50%. Long-term effects include a predisposition to smoking, respiratory infections, including pneumonia and bronchitis, as well as an increased risk of acute and chronic diseases of the ear, throat, nose, eyes, and mucous membranes of the mouth.

• "Passive smoking affects not only the mother inhaling the smoke but also the developing child in her womb. Pregnant women living with smokers have a significantly higher chance of giving birth to a low-birth-weight baby, experiencing premature labor, or having a stillbirth. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke increases the risk of premature birth by 20%. Moreover, the chemical changes in a pregnant woman's body due to passive smoking can harm the embryo's nervous system. The toxic substances in smoke can also transfer into breast milk, potentially causing disturbances in the central nervous system of the infant, leading to anxiety, crying, low weight, and other issues," notes Shukhrat Shukurov, a consultant for the Ministry of Health on tobacco control.

The numbers speak:

Research conducted in Uzbekistan shows that 47% of the adult population (aged 18 to 69) is exposed to tobacco smoke at home, meaning one in two people, while 38% (one in five) are exposed in enclosed workplaces. According to a survey among school students conducted in 2021, 7% of teenagers aged 13-15 (one in 15) are exposed to tobacco smoke at home, and 16% (one in six) in closed public places.

According to specialist Shukhrat Shukurov, the number of people smoking tobacco products has been decreasing in recent years both in Uzbekistan and globally. However, tobacco industry representatives, eager to maintain their profits, are introducing technologically advanced and modern products to the market, advertising them among children and teenagers, which contributes to the popularity of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

• "When cigarettes or cigars are smoked in public places, their unpleasant odor affects those around and elicits negative reactions towards the smoker. However, with the addition of flavorings to heated tobacco products and electronic cigarettes, the smoking process becomes less noticeable to others. People may perceive it as chewing gum or chocolate. Such instances frequently occur in public spaces and even workplaces, so greater attention should be paid to those around," he emphasizes.

Are there legal foundations for combating passive smoking?

Uzbekistan joined the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control on April 24, 2012. According to Article 8 of this convention, each country is required to ensure a 100% smoke-free environment.

In Uzbekistan, the law "On the Restriction of the Distribution and Consumption of Alcoholic and Tobacco Products" prohibits smoking in public places. The law specifies certain areas where smoking is prohibited (Article 24) and establishes that smoking can only be organized in designated areas—outdoors, away from buildings and structures (Article 25).

• "According to Article 561 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, citizens who smoke in public places may be fined one-third of the base calculation amount. However, this code does not establish administrative liability for those responsible for allowing smoking in public places, and addressing this issue is currently relevant," says Shukhrat Shukurov, consultant for the Ministry of Health on tobacco control.

Research results from the USA show that comprehensive smoking restrictions reduced asthma and respiratory infection rates by 24%, asthma cases among children decreased