Indoor Air Cartoon Journal, November 2018, Volume 1, #32

Chronic illness or death could occur due to a spousal hazard. Just like an occupational hazard, efforts should be made to eradicate spousal hazard. A non-smoker spouse exposed to tobacco smoke from smoker spouse on a daily basis is experiencing spousal hazard. Evidence in the literature suggests that the probability of a non-smoker spouse developing lung cancer could be over 20% when subjected to long term exposure to tobacco smoke pollutants from spouse’s smoking. Several respiratory problems could also develop due to the long term exposure. This is a public health concern.

Pre-existing health issues and poor ventilation, air movement and air cleaning in an indoor environment will further increase the risk as they make exposed non-smoker spouse be more vulnerable. Couples are meant to spend a lovely time together. A tobacco smoke-free indoor environment is the best way to reduce non-smoker spouse’s risk of developing lung cancer from secondhand smoke. If you are a smoker, can your love for your non-smoking partner motivate you to stop smoking? The choice is yours to make. Don’t let tobacco smoke do you part.

Do you want to know more about this topic? Read Brennan et al. (2004), Dobson (2004) and Tredaniel et al. (1997) papers.