Antioxidant vitamins in reducing the toxicity of environmental tobacco smoke

Environmental tobacco smoking (ETS), passive smoke, or second-hand smoke is a pervasive contaminant in public places. Exposure to ETS results in oxidative stress and damage. Oxidative stress, a disturbance in the prooxidant-antioxidant balance in favor of the former, leads to lipid peroxidation; alteration of antioxidant enzymes in the heart, liver, and lung; as well as potential damage to DNA. The accumulated oxidative damage is believed to play an important role in the etiology of a number of chronic diseases induced by tobacco smoke, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, cancer, and cardiovascular disease.