Tupakansavu

Tupakansavu is the Finnish term for tobacco smoke, the airborne mixture produced when tobacco products are burned and inhaled. It consists of a complex combination of gases and fine particles, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, volatile organic compounds (such as benzene and formaldehyde), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and numerous other chemical constituents. Tobacco smoke is typically described as mainstream smoke (exhaled by the smoker) and sidestream smoke (emitted from the burning end), with sidestream smoke contributing substantially to secondhand exposure.

Health effects associated with tupakansavu include increased risks of cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory conditions, and multiple types of cancer. Exposure during pregnancy and childhood is linked to adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and impaired lung development. Secondhand smoke—also called environmental tobacco smoke—affects non-smokers in the vicinity and is recognized as a preventable public health hazard. Residual pollutants deposited on surfaces and in dust, sometimes called thirdhand smoke, can persist after active smoking has ceased.

Public health responses to reduce exposure to tupakansavu include smoking bans in public indoor spaces, restrictions on advertising and sales, smoke-free home and vehicle campaigns, and smoking cessation programs. Measurement and mitigation of indoor air quality, along with education on the risks of both active and passive exposure, remain central to efforts aimed at reducing the health burden of tobacco smoke.