Final answer:
Children exposed to secondhand smoke face elevated risks of respiratory infections, SIDS, ear infections, and worsened asthma symptoms due to the toxic and carcinogenic chemicals it contains.
Step-by-step explanation:
Exposure to secondhand smoke has significant cognitive effects on children, including an increased risk of lower respiratory infections, which can lead to hospitalizations, and a higher incidence of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Additionally, children exposed to secondhand smoke are at a greater risk for ear infections and the exacerbation of asthma symptoms.
Secondhand smoke, comprising of both sidestream smoke and the mainstream smoke exhaled by smokers, contains over 7,000 harmful chemicals, with at least 250 known to cause detriment to human health, including toxic and carcinogenic substances such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS), N-nitrosamines, and formaldehyde. These substances pose significant health risks and are particularly deleterious to the developing brains and bodies of children.