In Zhengzhou, Henan Province, an 11-year-old boy who had been suffering from persistent fever and coughing was taken to a major hospital after symptoms failed to improve. Doctors discovered a malignant tumor in his lungs, leading to a diagnosis of lung cancer. After further questioning, it was revealed that the boy’s father had been smoking indoors for years. Doctors suspect prolonged exposure to secondhand smoke caused the boy’s lung disease.

According to reports from Sina and other Chinese media, the boy was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2025. He is currently undergoing treatment at the hospital.

Dr. Yuan Yuexi, Director of Thoracic Surgery and Cardiovascular Surgery at Changsha Central Hospital, explained that secondhand smoke is essentially involuntary smoking. It primarily affects people close to smokers—family members, coworkers—who unknowingly inhale smoke and its toxic components.

Experts warn that secondhand smoke can be just as harmful as direct smoking. The concentration of toxic substances in secondhand smoke is often higher: twice the amount of tar and benzo[a]pyrene, four times the carbon monoxide, 46 times the ammonia, and 50 times the carcinogenic nitrosamines.

Research shows that in poorly ventilated indoor spaces, one hour of exposure to secondhand smoke is roughly equivalent to smoking one cigarette. Long-term exposure essentially turns non-smokers into light smokers. Children are especially vulnerable—their faster breathing rate, underdeveloped lungs, and weaker DNA repair mechanisms make them three times more susceptible to absorbing toxins per unit of body weight, significantly increasing their cancer risk.

Experts also note that simply opening windows while smoking does not eliminate the danger. Indoor smoke can take up to 16 hours to fully clear out PM2.5 particles. In addition to secondhand smoke, residue left on clothes and surfaces—known as thirdhand smoke—can linger for over six months and contains harmful substances like heavy metals and radioactive particles that cannot be removed by regular cleaning.

Source: SET News