Environmental Tobacco Smoke and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

• Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health Vol. 28; no. 2; pp. 41 - 51
• Main Authors: Jousilahti, Pekka, Patja, Kristiina, Salomaa, Veikko
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Finland Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment ＆ Health 01.01.2002; National Institute for Working Life; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; National Institute of Occupational Health (Denmark); National Institute of Occupational Health (Norway)
• Subjects: Bias; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - epidemiology; Cigarette smoking; Congenital heart defects; Coronary artery disease; Disease risk; Epidemiology; Humans; Referents; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Secondhand smoke; Smoking cessation; Social Class; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Tobacco smoking; experimental studies; epidemiology; overview; subclinical effect; disease; smoking; coronary heart disease; passive smoking; tobacco; stroke
• ISSN: 0355-3140; 1795-990X

Disease risk due to smoking is not limited to smokers only. Passive smoking, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, is associated with adverse health effects, and it increases the risk of several diseases. This paper summarizes the cardiovascular effects of tobacco smoke and the current data on the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on the development of cardiovascular disease. According to the results of epidemiologic and experimental studies, environmental tobacco smoke has marked harmful effects on the cardiovascular system. It is estimated that it increases the risk of an acute event of coronary heart disease by 25-35%. Even though the number of studies conducted in the work environment is small, there is no reason to assume that the cardiovascular effects of environmental tobacco smoke differ markedly between the home and the workplace. Firm and timely actions are needed to protect people from exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, both in occupational and other environments.