Does secondhand smoke contain harmful chemicals?

Secondhand smoke contains 4,000 chemicals in it; 250 of those chemicals are harmful to us, and 50 of those chemicals can cause cancer. There is estimated to be 600,000 deaths worldwide attribute to secondhand smoke. Watch this video to learn more from Dr. Randy P. Martin about secondhand smoke.

Yes. Of the more than 4,000 chemicals that have been identified in secondhand tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful, and 50 of these are known to cause cancer. These chemicals include: arsenic (a heavy metal toxin,) benzene (a chemical found in gasoline), beryllium (a toxic metal), cadmium (a metal used in batteries), chromium (a metal), ethylene oxide (a chemical used to sterilize medical devices), nickel (a metal), polonium-210 (a chemical element that gives off radiation), vinyl chloride (a toxic substance used in plastics manufacturing).

Many factors affect which chemicals are found in secondhand smoke, including the type of tobacco, the chemicals added to the tobacco, the way the product is smoked, and the paper in which the tobacco is wrapped.

This answer is based on source information from the National Cancer Institute.