South Carolina Tobacco Collaborative

Surgeon General

The U.S. Surgeon General has released 30 reports addressing the health impact and consequences of  smoking and of breathing secondhand smoke.

The most recent was released on December 9, 2010 in response to research showing that the health impact of smoking, both voluntary and involuntary, is more immediate and dramatic than previously thought.

Key conclusions of this report and an earlier report on the consequences of exposure to Secondhand Smoke are included below. These summaries include links to the full reports.

Link here to the Surgeon General web-pages on Tobacco.
Link here to the Center for Disease Control website on Smoking & Tobacco Use.

A Report of the Surgeon General: How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease

1. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Any exposure to tobacco smoke - even an occasional cigarette or exposure to secondhand smoke - is harmful.
2. Damage from tobacco smoke is immediate.
3. Smoking longer means more damage.
4. Cigarettes are designed for addiction.
5. There is no safe cigarette. ('Light' and 'low tar' variations do not reduce disease risk.)
6. The only proven strategy for reducing the risk of tobacco-related disease and death is to never smoke.

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

June 27, 2006   US Department of Health and Human Services
Full Report link here.

1. Many millions of Americans, both children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes and workplaces despite substantial programs in tobacco control.
2. Secondhand smoke exposure causes disease and premature death in children and adults who do not smoke.
3. 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.
4. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and shows lung growth in their children.
5. Exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer.
6. The scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
7. Eliminating smoke in indoor spaces fully protects nonsmokers from exposure to secondhand smoke.
8. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposures of nonsmokers to secondhand smoke.

Conclusions specific to Secondhand Smoke Exposure in the Workplace

1. The workplace is a major source of secondhand smoke exposure for adults.
2. Secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace has been linked to an increased risk for heart disease and lung cancer among adult nonsmokers.
3. Blue collar and service employees are less likely than white collar indoor workers to be covered by smoke-free policies.
4. Restaurant employees are far less likely than other workers to be protected by smoke-free workplace policies, more likely than other workers to have these policies violated where they do exist, and are more likely to be exposed to high levels of secondhand smoke on the job.
5. The Surgeon General has concluded that smoke-free workplace policies are the only effective way to eliminate secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate exposure.
6. The Surgeon General has also concluded that workplace smoking restrictions lead to less smoking among covered workers.