We all know about the health risks associated with smoking and secondhand smoke, but do you truly know how dangerous it is to smoke in an enclosed place like a car, even with the windows open?<\/p>\n
A study by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health found \u201calarming\u201d levels of secondhand smoke were generated in just five minutes in vehicles under various driving, ventilation, and smoking conditions. These levels were higher than found in similar studies conducted in restaurants and bars.<\/p>\n
Secondhand smoke and carbon monoxide from just one cigarette exceeded levels described by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as \u201cunhealthy for sensitive groups\u201d such as children and the elderly. Even when the smoker extinguished the cigarette and rolled down the window, the unhealthy levels lingered.<\/p>\n
For more information, check out this video from the California Department of Public Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n