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[Parsely]

I just got a new job. Everyone here smokes but me and they never stop, so there's no way I can get away from it. I'm new and they're teaching me how things work so I don't want to piss them off by asking them to quit smoking (as if they would).

What I want to know is, just how dangerous is secondhand smoke? They don't blow it in my face at least. The place is well-ventilated and open to the air so it's not like there's a haze around my head or anything, but I read that even light exposure is really unhealthy for you. I'm never close enough that I have to be around visible fumes, but nearly always close enough that there's an odor. How do I know what kind of exposure is dangerous? Is there any way I can protect myself short of wearing a mask? Would wearing a mask even help?

[~Neri]

Second hand smoke is just as bad as firsthand.

Wear a gasmask or quit.

[Parsely]

Second hand smoke is just as bad as firsthand.

Wear a gasmask or quit.

I can't quit. They're paying me a lot.

It makes me angry that safety can be shameful.

[~Neri]

Bring it up with the people up top, if they fail to do anything, since smoking indoors is a violation of workplace safety, you are required to report it to the government.

[Coolnesstod]

Second hand smoke is more dangerous as time goes on, but doesn't affect you immediately like first hand, so wearing a medical mask helps if you don't want to breathe it in. But generally speaking, you shouldn't have any problems if you're only working this job for a year or so. If you work there longer than that and they still chain smoke as you say they do, then maybe finding a new job would be best at that time.

[Graknorke]

Smoking inside a workplace is illegal anyway, so they shouldn't be doing that.

[Xantalos]

The dangers of second hand, as others have said, is basically the same as first hand just taking longer to take effect.

[martinuzz]

Second hand smoke, in a situation as described by you, as said before, exposes you to (mostly) the same particle pollution as smoking does, albeit (much) more slowly.

However, to worry about it would be silly. The fresh outdoor air in most cities poses a significantly larger risk for your health. There's some studies that show that, if you live near a busy road, you are exposed to as much carcenogenic pollutants everytime you go outdoors as you would by spending all day in the clubhouse of the Heavy Smoker Society. And those studies are about 'clean' western European cities. Not even about Beijing or similar smog enveloped cities in China.

That being said, I don't know where you are from, but in a lot of countries nowadays, smoking at the workingplace has been banned, mostly to avoid lawsuits by non smokers. And even though I do not believe that the "boohoo it damages my health if other people smoke" argument has much value (at least not before we ban cars and industry), I do believe that smoke can be annoying for non smokers, and it would be polite to not smoke in the company of non smokers who have an issue with it.

[Graknorke]

Ah yes, the good old "why solve any problem if you're not going to solve all of them at once" argument. There isn't as much of an organised defence of smoking in public than there is for the automotive industry and polluting manufacturing, so it's easier to regulate. That doesn't mean that people aren't trying to get pollution regulation on those other things though.

[martinuzz]

I'm not saying that.

I just think that complaining about 'your smoke is bad for me' is very much nitpicking, because the risk of passive smoke pales in statistical comparison to the risk of other pollutants, up to a degree that science would classify as 'insignificant'.
It's not unthinkable that (the cycloid aromatics in) an old lady's perfume is more damaging to my health that someone smoking next to me.

Just be honest and say "I am irritated by your smoke" or "it stinks!", and I will politely apologize and put it out. Just don't come with that "my health" bs.

[MetalSlimeHunt]

If you have any windows and the weather isn't hotter or colder than any other planets in this solar system, just leave them open all the time. I know that's obvious, but with the advent of HVAC people are surprisingly apt to forget that windows open.

[Parsely]

I'm not saying that.

I just think that complaining about 'your smoke is bad for me' is very much nitpicking, because the risk of passive smoke pales in statistical comparison to the risk of other pollutants, up to a degree that science would classify as 'insignificant'.
It's not unthinkable that (the cycloid aromatics in) an old lady's perfume is more damaging to my health that someone smoking next to me.

Just be honest and say "I am irritated by your smoke" or "it stinks!", and I will politely apologize and put it out. Just don't come with that "my health" bs.

That sounds like exactly what Graknorke claimed you were saying. Why try to avoid tobacco smoke or some perfumes, which as you said are evidenced to cause health problems, a problem you can solve by talking to people, if you already breathe in car fumes? The thing is, you can't ask people to stop driving their cars. I don't get why people citing their health is the deal breaker for you. There's exactly zero doubt in the minds of educated people that smoke is terrible for you.

[Bumber]

That sounds like exactly what Graknorke claimed you were saying. Why try to avoid tobacco smoke or some perfumes, which as you said are evidenced to cause health problems, a problem you can solve by talking to people, if you already breathe in car fumes? The thing is, you can't ask people to stop driving their cars. I don't get why people citing their health is the deal breaker for you. There's exactly zero doubt in the minds of educated people that smoke is terrible for you.

You can avoid busy roads, you can't avoid your workplace (and keep your job.) You also need to take into account time spent in these areas and ventilation.

Edit: Also, I think that might be an All or Nothing Fallacy. (Nirvana Fallacy?) You want to minimize your risks as much as possible.

[taldarus]

Facts:Second hand smoke is dangerous, but poorly understood.

The primary concerns here are the PM or Particulate Matter. An aggregate level of PM over 35 for 8 hours will increase your risk of death by about 3% (Thats three years out of your a lotted 120). A further rise of +10 adds +3% (egg 45 - 6%, 55 - 9%). This includes A HUGE list of potential causes of death. (Primarily lung and heart, but almost every major organ is damaged through the process).

It is my estimate that smoking (I have never measured the values of cigarette smoke) can raise a 1 cubic meter area of space by upwards of 400. Keep in mind, most spaces are larger than that, and so the number drops exponentially. If the space is ventilated your risk to severe levels is minimized. Here's my working rule of thumb:
Smell - 75 to 150 range
Sight - maybe 200'ish, but probably 300+
Throat, nose, and ear are going to be your early warning. If you are finding your nose is plugged up more often, you should reduce your levels of exposure. If you start getting infections you should cut off all exposure. (Or the infections could (5-10%) damage your ears/nose/throat)

Wikipedia has a very useful article: (wiki:particulate matter)

The Mongolian government agency recorded a 45% increase in the rate of respiratory illness in the past five years

Not the reference I wanted, I remember somewhere on wiki there's a fifty percent rise in all major disease groups. Annual exposure is probably around 200.

My opinion: Wear a mask, if the money is really good, you should expend a fraction of the money now to ensure longer lasting good health later. Economically it's the prudent decision. Also it is far less confrontational a solution (I don't hesitate to confront smokers, but since you are here...), you will be asked why your wearing a mask, and you can explain. Also you wont need to sound demanding or pushy. NOTE: you probably will be teased about it.

google: 3m disposable respirators, shouldn't be too expensive and should be relatively available world wide.

Source:
Living 3+ years in a highly polluted outdoor air quality environment. (I can drive to mongolia to get CLEANER air)
HVAC 500 level coursework in college, H. V. A. C - Heating, Ventillation, and Air Conditioning
WHO, EPA, and WebMD all have excellent material available. If you want to study the topic further. I just gave you a quick summary IMO.

[Parsely]

Thanks a lot taldarus. This is the kind of info I was looking for.