West Texas Study Finds Secondhand Smoke to Be More Dangerous Than We Thought

I can't be the only one who, growing up with smokers in the family, was often exposed to secondhand cigarette smoke. Well, lucky me, because a new study from Texas A&M found that simply breathing when cigarette smoke is in the vicinity increases buildup of a toxin that leads to certain cancers.

Cadmium: The Cancer-Causing Toxin

Have you heard of cadmium? It turns out that this metal toxin builds up over time in the body due to inhaling cigarette smoke. It's actually a leading factor in kidney, lung, and prostate cancers, according to Texas A&M researchers.

In fact, adults exposed to secondhand smoke already have about 1.5 times more cadmium in their blood than those in smoke-free areas.

Here's what else the researchers found. Not only can cadmium buildup lead to several forms of cancer, but it can also cause kidney failure, brittle bones, and even chronic breathing issues like asthma and bronchitis over time.

Key Findings

Following the study's results, researchers discovered that active smoking adults had over three times the cadmium levels than non-smokers.

In children and teenagers, cadmium levels changed only slightly. It's believed that this is due to the fact that, as we age, our kidneys become less efficient in clearing out harmful components.

Here's another strange fact: Women exhibited higher cadmium levels than men across all age groups. This is because the female digestive tract absorbs and processes the toxin more efficiently than men, especially during pregnancy or menopause.

Surprise! Smoking is Bad

This is not a PSA, but it should surprise no one that smoking is indeed bad. Not just for the smoker themselves, but also for those around them.

Suddenly I'm appreciating the split between smoking and non-smoking sections at restaurants while growing up...