What is EPA's position on children's exposure to secondhand smoke/aerosol?
EPA encourages that smoking and vaping be prohibited near all children and in any indoor space that children may use or occupy, including homes and cars.
The U.S. Surgeon General has found that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke and exposure increases the health risks for children. Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure is particularly harmful to children, causing more inner ear infections, bronchitis, and pneumonia.
Secondhand tobacco smoke can trigger asthma episodes and increase the severity of attacks. Secondhand tobacco smoke is also a risk factor for new cases of asthma in pre-school-aged children.
Read more about secondhand smoke/aerosol.
Read about EPA's Asthma and Indoor Environments Program.
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