Passive smoking induces oxidant damage preventable by vitamin C.

The deleterious effects of cigarette smoking on antioxidant protection and chronic disease risk are well known. Recent studies show that exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke results in increased oxidant damage linked to heart and respiratory diseases. The new findings provide support for efforts to minimize exposure of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke and oxidizing air pollutants and demonstrate the importance of vitamin C for antioxidant protection.