Smoking kills — and not only smokers. Secondhand smoke contains the same 7,000+ chemicals, and there is no safe level of exposure. If you smoke around family, children or housemates, this guide explains the risks and how to protect your family starting today.
How secondhand smoke harms children
- More frequent asthma attacks and respiratory infections
- More ear infections and fluid requiring surgery
- Higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Slower lung growth and more missed school days
Risks to non-smoking adults
Living with a smoker raises a non-smoker’s heart disease risk by 25–30% and lung cancer risk by 20–30%. Pregnant women exposed to smoke face higher risks too — see smoking during pregnancy.
Make your home and car smoke-free
- Ban indoor smoking completely — opening windows does not work.
- Keep the car smoke-free — it is illegal in Australia to smoke in a car with a child under 18.
- Smoke well away from doors and windows, and change clothes before cuddling kids.
- Set a quit date — the only real fix. Start with our Australian quit guide.
Thirdhand smoke: the residue risk
Nicotine residue lingers on walls, furniture and clothes long after a cigarette is out — especially risky for crawling babies. A smoke-free home plus quitting is the gold standard.
Get free family support at our quit smoking hub, read our parents’ guide to youth smoking, or call Quitline 13 78 48.
Smoke-Free Laws in Australia
Australia restricts smoking in enclosed public places, near playgrounds and public transport stops, and in cars carrying children — because secondhand smoke harms bystanders. Penalties apply in every state and territory. These laws exist since secondhand smoke has no safe exposure level; enclosed spaces concentrate its 7,000+ chemicals within minutes.
Talking to a Smoker You Live With
Raising secondhand smoke at home works best with care, not conflict: share facts (see the health cost of smoking), propose a fully smoke-free home and car, offer to support a quit attempt, and keep Quitline 13 78 48 handy. If you are the smoker, our quit guide and quit hub make starting easier than you think.
Protecting Pets from Smoke
Secondhand smoke harms animals too. Dogs in smoking homes develop more lung and nasal cancers; cats — meticulous groomers — ingest smoke particles settled on fur and suffer higher rates of mouth cancer (lymphoma). Birds are exquisitely sensitive to air pollution, and fish tanks absorb airborne toxins. Because secondhand smoke settles into furnishings pets contact constantly, a smoke-free home protects every species under your roof. If quitting feels hard, quitting for a beloved pet is a legitimate and powerful reason.
Renting? Your Rights Around Smoke
Renters bothered by neighbours’ smoke have options: most states allow smoke-drift complaints through strata or tenancy tribunals, many leases now include no-smoking clauses, and landlords increasingly advertise smoke-free properties. Document dates, times and health effects, raise the issue politely in writing, and escalate to strata management or your state tenancy body if needed. Meanwhile, keep your own household safe with the steps above, and explore quitting via our quit hub.
Secondhand Smoke: Key Takeaways
Secondhand smoke contains the same 7,000+ chemicals as inhaled smoke, and there is no safe exposure level. Secondhand smoke raises heart disease and lung cancer risk in adults, while children suffer more asthma, ear infections and SIDS. Smoke-free homes and cars are essential — ventilation does not remove the danger.
Go further: read our parents’ guide to youth smoking, follow our quit guide, and find family support at our quit hub.
Health warning: Smoking kills. Smoking is harmful to your health and the health of those around you. For free help quitting in Australia, call Quitline 13 78 48 or visit quit.org.au.
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