Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Effect of SECOND HAND SMOKING in apartment on baby.

Resolved Question:

Hello Doctor,
wanted to ask few things about Second hand smoking. I stay at ground floor and in same apartment, on level 3, the guy who stays there smokes every 2-3 hours.
there is a distance of around 25 meters at least, but sometimes we could smell cigarette. The moment I detect it, I close ventilation to prevent my family.
I am more concerned about my 4-month old child. Is this a safe distance? No one smokes inside my home BTW.

Thanks
Prashant Keshvani

Category: Pediatrician

Ask Your Own Question

Category: ICU/ Critical Care Specialist
 29 Doctors Online

Dear parent,

I can understand your concerns. This is a very common query in India. The harmful effects of passive or second-hand smoking is very well documented in the literature.
Breathing in second-hand smoke is particularly harmful for children. Babies less than 1 year of age, who breathe in secondhand smoke, have an increased risk of cot death or sudden infant death syndrome. Smoking can also trigger asthma attacks in children who already have the condition. Younger children, as in your child's case, are also much more likely to be admitted to hospital for a serious respiratory infections or frequent cough and colds when exposed to second hand smoke.
Twenty five metres sounds far enough but there are no guidelines as to what distance would be completely safe. Studies have shown that second hand smoke exists in the environment even when you cannot smell anything. If you can smell it, it is definitely there. The maximum harm is when you have smoke within a closed space like a room with poor ventilation. So, it is good that there are no smokers in your home.
For the sake of the neighbour's as well as your health, you could try motivating him to quit smoking. He is killing himself and causing harm to others. But it is easier said than done.
All the best.
Regards
Dr. Saptharishi L G


Dr. Saptharishi L G
Category: ICU/ Critical Care Specialist
Experience: 
Senior Residency: DM,  Pediatric Critical Care, PGIMER

Residency: MD, Pediatrics, Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 2013

Internship: JIPMER, 2009

Medical School: MBBS, Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, 2008
Dr. Saptharishi L G and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news