In children,
environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk of sudden infant
death syndrome, middle ear disease, lower respiratory tract illness, and
prevalence of wheeze and cough. It also exacerbates asthma. In adults,
environmental tobacco smoke is associated with an increased risk of
chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer and cancers of other sites (286),
as well as cardiovascular disease (287). Intrauterine and environmental
exposure to parental tobacco smoking is related to more respiratory
symptoms and poorer lung function in adulthood.