Passive Smoking in Grand Rapids, MI: Health Risks, Local Laws, and How to Protect Your Family

Passive smoking, also called second-hand smoke or environmental tobacco smoke, means breathing in other people’s tobacco smoke. This includes:

  • The smoke drifting from a lit cigarette, cigar, pipe, or shisha
  • The smoke exhaled by the person who is smoking

In Grand Rapids and across Michigan, second-hand smoke is a serious health risk for people who smoke and for non-smokers, including children, pregnant women, and older adults.

Cold Michigan winters mean people in Grand Rapids often spend more time indoors with windows closed, which can trap tobacco smoke in homes, cars, and workplaces and increase exposure.

How Second-Hand Smoke Behaves Indoors

Tobacco smoke contains around 7,000 chemicals (particles and gases), and more than 70 are known to cause cancer. It also contains irritants like ammonia, sulphur compounds, and formaldehyde that damage the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs.

Indoors, second-hand smoke:

  • Cools quickly and stops rising
  • Becomes heavier than air and sinks
  • Hangs in the air and forms a low-lying cloud

In a Grand Rapids home or apartment, especially in winter with doors and windows shut, smoke can build up and spread throughout the house. Limiting smoking to “just one room” does not protect others — smoke easily drifts under doors, through vents, and into shared spaces.

Who Is Most at Risk in Grand Rapids?

Children and Infants

Children in Kent County are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke because their lungs and immune systems are still developing.

Health risks for children exposed to second-hand smoke include:

  • Sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI), including:
    • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
    • Fatal sleep accidents
  • Bronchiolitis and pneumonia
  • Bronchitis and other lung infections
  • More frequent and more severe asthma attacks
  • “Glue ear” (middle ear infections)
  • Chronic cough, wheezing, phlegm, and breathlessness
  • Higher risk of meningococcal disease

A child who lives in a smoking household for the first 18 months of life has a higher risk of multiple lung illnesses. Their lungs may be weaker and may not reach full growth potential. School-aged children of people who smoke are more likely to miss school due to respiratory illnesses.

Pregnant Women and Unborn Babies

When a pregnant woman in Grand Rapids breathes in second-hand smoke at home, in a car, or at work, her unborn baby is exposed to the same toxic chemicals.

Health risks of second-hand smoke exposure during pregnancy include:

  • Miscarriage and stillbirth
  • Ectopic pregnancy (for women who smoke)
  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Complications during birth
  • Sudden unexpected death in infants (SUDI), including SIDS
  • Birth defects such as cleft lip or cleft palate
  • Lower fertility
  • Possible increased risk of some childhood cancers, including liver cancer

About 10% of American women smoke during pregnancy, and many more are exposed to second-hand smoke from partners or family members. In Grand Rapids, where indoor gathering is common during colder months, reducing smoke exposure in the home is especially important for pregnant women.

Men Who Smoke and Future Children

Active smoking by men can damage sperm. Some health problems in children may be linked to:

  • A non-smoking mother breathing in second-hand smoke
  • Sperm damage from the father’s tobacco use
  • Or both factors together

This can increase the risk of fertility problems, pregnancy complications, and some birth defects.

Health Risks of Passive Smoking for Adults

People in Grand Rapids who have never smoked but live or work with smokers are at increased risk of many serious health problems.

Heart and Blood Vessel Disease

Second-hand smoke affects your blood vessels in several ways:

  • Makes blood “stickier” and more likely to clot
  • Damages the lining of blood vessels
  • Reduces levels of protective antioxidant vitamins in the blood
  • Impairs the ability of blood vessels to regulate blood flow

Just 30 minutes of exposure to second-hand smoke can affect blood vessel function to a similar degree as in someone who smokes.

Long-term passive smoking can contribute to:

  • Atherosclerosis (narrowing and hardening of the arteries)
  • Heart disease
  • Stroke
  • Disability or death from cardiovascular events

Lung Cancer and Other Cancers

Second-hand smoke is a confirmed cause of lung cancer. People who are regularly exposed to second-hand smoke have a 20–30% higher risk of developing lung cancer compared with those not exposed.

There is also increasing evidence that passive smoking may increase the risk of:

  • Nasal sinus cancer
  • Mouth cancer
  • Throat cancer
  • Larynx (voice box) cancer

Chronic Lung Disease and Breathing Problems

Non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke are at higher risk of:

  • Long- and short-term respiratory symptoms (cough, wheeze, breathlessness)
  • Loss of lung function over time
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), especially with long-term exposure
  • More frequent respiratory infections

For people in Grand Rapids living with asthma, COPD, or other lung conditions, second-hand smoke can trigger or worsen symptoms, leading to more doctor visits, ER trips (for example to Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids), and hospital stays.

Michigan and Grand Rapids Smoking Laws

Michigan has statewide smoke-free laws designed to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke in public places and workplaces. These laws apply in Grand Rapids and are enforced locally.

In Michigan, it is illegal to smoke tobacco (including shisha) or use vaping products (e-cigarettes) in most indoor workplaces and many public spaces, including:

  • Most indoor public places, including restaurants and bars
  • Indoor workplaces and offices
  • Public transportation
  • Many healthcare facilities

In addition, Michigan law makes it illegal to:

  • Smoke in cars carrying anyone under 18 years of age

Local rules and policies may also apply in:

  • Hospitals and clinics (such as Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, Mercy Health) – most have smoke-free campuses
  • Kent County Health Department buildings and Grand Rapids Public Health facilities
  • School grounds and childcare centers
  • Certain parks, playgrounds, and event spaces designated as smoke-free by the City of Grand Rapids or Kent County

For the most current information on tobacco and vaping laws in Michigan, visit:

  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) – Tobacco and vaping information
  • Kent County Health Department – Local tobacco prevention and smoke-free policies

Protecting Your Family from Second-Hand Smoke in Grand Rapids

If you smoke but are not ready or able to quit immediately, you can still take important steps to protect your family and friends.

Make Your Home Smoke-Free

  • Do not smoke inside your house or apartment — ever.
  • Always smoke outdoors, away from doors and windows.
  • Keep windows and doors closed while you smoke outside so smoke does not drift indoors.
  • Do not rely on fans, air purifiers, or smoking “in just one room” — they do not remove all harmful chemicals.
  • Ask visitors to smoke outside as well. This includes shisha, cigars, and vaping products.

Make Your Car Smoke-Free

  • Never smoke in your car, even with the windows open.
  • Remember: in Michigan, it is illegal to smoke in a vehicle carrying anyone under 18.
  • Do not allow others to smoke in your car, even when children are not present — smoke residue (third-hand smoke) clings to seats and surfaces.

Protect Children Everywhere

  • Avoid taking children to outdoor areas where people are smoking and you cannot easily move away.
  • Make sure anyone who cares for your children (relatives, babysitters, daycare providers, coaches) provides a smoke-free environment.
  • Avoid smoking in enclosed spaces where non-smokers spend time, such as:
    • Garages
    • Sheds
    • Playhouses or cubby houses
    • Boats or caravans/RVs

These spaces trap smoke, especially in cold Michigan weather when doors and windows are closed.

Why Quitting Smoking Matters for Your Family in Grand Rapids

Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health — and for the health of those around you.

When you quit:

  • You protect your partner, children, and other household members from second-hand smoke.
  • You reduce their risk of lung disease, heart disease, SIDS, asthma attacks, and many cancers.
  • You have more energy and time to enjoy Michigan’s outdoor activities, from walking the Grand River trails to playing with your kids in local parks.
  • You save significant money for your household.
  • You set a powerful example — parents who quit smoking greatly reduce the chance that their children will start smoking later in life.

Take a moment to think about your personal reasons to quit:

  • Your children or grandchildren
  • Your health and future
  • Your finances
  • Your ability to stay active and enjoy life in Grand Rapids

Getting Help to Quit Smoking in Grand Rapids, MI

You do not have to quit alone. There are many local and statewide resources to help.

Talk to Your Healthcare Team

  • Your GP or primary care doctor – can provide advice, medications (like nicotine replacement therapy, varenicline, or bupropion), and referrals to support programs.
  • Pharmacists – at local pharmacies in Grand Rapids can recommend over-the-counter nicotine replacement products and give practical tips.
  • Local health systems – Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health, and Mercy Health often offer smoking cessation programs, classes, or support groups.

Use Quitline and Online Support

  • Michigan Tobacco Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
    Free counseling, quit plans, and resources for Michigan residents.
  • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) – online quitting tools and information.
  • Kent County Health Department – local tobacco reduction and cessation programs.

Key Points About Passive Smoking in Grand Rapids

  • Second-hand smoke is a serious health risk for both people who smoke and those who do not.
  • Children, infants, pregnant women, and people with lung or heart disease are at highest risk.
  • Exposure to second-hand smoke can trigger or worsen asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, heart disease, stroke, and several cancers.
  • Passive smoking is a known cause of SUDI (including SIDS) and can sometimes lead to disability or death.
  • Making your home and car completely smoke-free is essential to protect your family.
  • Quitting smoking benefits your health, your loved ones’ health, and your finances — and help is available throughout Grand Rapids and Michigan.