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Passive smoking and vaping

Key facts

  • Passive smoke and vapour can be harmful to anyone who breathes it in — especially babies, children and pregnant females.
  • Passive smoke comes from the burning end of the tobacco product and the smoke that a smoker breathes out.
  • Passive vapour comes from heated vape liquid that a person vaping breathes out.
  • To protect yourself and your children, keep your home and car smoke- and vapour-free.

What is passive smoking?

Passive or second-hand smoking and vaping occurs when someone who doesn’t smoke or vape breathes in the smoke or vape vapour from another person nearby. This can come from:

  • cigarettes
  • vapes
  • cigars
  • pipes

Passive smoking and vaping can happen when you are near someone who is smoking or vaping, such as in the same:

  • room
  • home
  • car 
  • public place

Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of toxic chemicals. This includes about 70 chemicals that can cause cancer. Even small amounts of smoke are harmful. 
Some of these chemicals include:   

  • formaldehyde — toxic to airways and can cause cancer
  • lead — can cause cancer and harms your cardiovascular system
  • benzene — can cause cancer and may reduce fertility
  • carbon monoxide — harms your heart and may lead to a heart attack
  • polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — can damage your DNA
  • furan — can cause liver disease and liver cancer
  • arsenic — can cause cancer and harms your cardiovascular system and reproductive system

Vapour from vapes can contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that have many known and unknown health risks.

Passive smoke and vapour can be harmful to anyone who breathes it in. This is especially true for babies, children and pregnant females.

Passive smoking and vaping are never safe.

Where does second-hand smoke and vapour come from?

Passive smoke comes from:

  • the burning ends of cigarettes, cigars or pipes
  • the smoke that the smoker breathes out

Passive vapour comes from the vapour a person breathes out after using a vape.

How does passive smoking and vaping affect your health?

Passive smoking can cause or worsen the following conditions and diseases:

Children exposed to second-hand vapour are more likely to get:

  • exposed to nicotine, other harmful chemicals, and metals
  • lung damage
  • respiratory issues, such as shortness of breath and coughing
  • asthma as a teen

Passive smoking and pregnancy, babies and children

If you are pregnant, passive smoking can:

Babies and children exposed to passive smoking may develop illnesses such as:

In babies, passive smoking can contribute to sudden infant death syndrome. This can happen because chemicals from the smoke harm the brain and make it hard for babies to breathe.

Children of parents who smoke are more likely to become smokers themselves.

What can I do as a parent or carer?

If you smoke or vape, the best thing you can do is to quit smoking and vaping.

You can also:

  • keep your home smoke and vape free
  • keep your car smoke and vape free
  • make sure that your family, friends and other carers don't smoke or vape around your children
  • encourage the smokers or vapers in your life to quit 
  • teach your children to stay away from second-hand smoke and vapour

How can I reduce my exposure to passive smoke and vapour?

The only way to fully protect yourself from second-hand smoke and vapour is to not allow smoking or vaping in enclosed or indoor spaces.

To protect yourself and your children, keep your home smoke- and vapour-free.

Ask your partner, family or friends to smoke or vape outside. It isn't enough for them to go to another room because smoke and vapour may move through your home. Even smoke particles on their clothes, skin and hair can harm people.

It’s called third-hand smoke when smoke particles settle onto things, such as:

  • walls
  • furniture
  • carpet
  • clothes
  • toys
  • dust 

What can I do about second-hand smoke and vapour if I smoke or vape?

If you smoke or vape, consider quitting. It’s the best thing you can do about second-hand smoke or vapour. For help and support, speak with your doctor and call Quitline (Opens in new tab) on 13 7848.

If you’re not ready to quit, the next best thing you can do is to smoke outside. Close the doors and windows so that smoke doesn’t go inside. You should also move away from other people while you smoke or vape. 

It’s a good idea to know the laws about smoking inside. 

What are the laws about smoking in enclosed places?

To protect people from the harms of smoking and vaping in Australia, it's illegal to smoke or vape in enclosed public places, including:

  • on public transport — trains, planes and buses
  • in office buildings
  • in shopping malls
  • in schools
  • in cinemas
  • in airports

In all states and territories, it is illegal to smoke in a car with a minor. A minor is someone under the age of 16, 17 or 18. The age depends on the state or territory you are in.

There may be other places where vaping or smoking is illegal, depending on the state and territory that you are in. To find out how these laws apply to you, visit the relevant link:

Resources and support

Quit has more information about second-hand smoke and vapour as well as how to quit smoking and vaping (Opens in new tab). 

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has resources about the health impact of passive smoking (Opens in new tab) and methods for quitting (Opens in new tab). 

Languages other than English 

Health Translations has resources in many languages about smoking and vaping (Opens in new tab) as well as how to quit smoking (Opens in new tab)and vaping (Opens in new tab). 

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Last reviewed: February 2024

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