Second-hand smoke is the smoke a smoker blows into the air, and the smoke that drifts into the air from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar or pipe.

Exposure to second-hand smoke frequently referred to as “passive smoking” occurs when you are exposed to other people’s tobacco smoke.

Most of the smoke from a cigarette goes directly into the air. This is called side stream smoke. Second-hand smoke is the mix of the 15% mainstream smoke exhaled by the smoker and the 85% side stream smoke.

This consumer information leaflet provides a summary of the health effects of second-hand smoke, recent steps taken to protect people in the workplace and advice in relation to protecting vulnerable groups.