Nearly 1.7 Million People Died From Second-Hand Smoke in 2023 Study Finds
SECOND-HAND SMOKE – A new study has revealed the alarming toll of second-hand smoke, including millions of children exposed to tobacco smoke every year.
More than 2.7 billion people around the world, including hundreds of millions of children, were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, with the exposure linked to nearly 1.7 million deaths, according to a study published Tuesday in The Lancet.
The research highlighted the continuing global health impact of tobacco, which remains one of the major contributors to illness and premature death. Of the estimated 8 million people who died from smoking-related diseases in 2023, a significant number were non-smokers who were exposed to tobacco smoke from others.
“Exposure to second-hand smoke is a globally recognised health risk, with no safe level of inhalation,” it said.
Researchers examined studies available through the US National Institutes of Health database PubMed, as well as population surveys, to determine the extent of second-hand smoke exposure and its health consequences across 204 countries and territories from 1990 through 2023.
The study estimated that about 767 million children between zero and 14 years old were among those exposed in 2023. Overall, second-hand smoke was associated with an estimated 1.66 million premature deaths, along with substantial illness and disability.
Ischemic heart disease was identified as the leading health condition connected to premature deaths related to second-hand smoke. The condition occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood.
Children were also found to face serious health consequences. Researchers estimated that exposure to second-hand smoke contributed to approximately 5.2 million respiratory tract infections among children in 2023.
The study explained that people near smokers inhale smoke from two primary sources: smoke released directly from the burning tobacco product and smoke exhaled by the smoker.
“The sidestream component, which dominates the air non-smokers breathe, is unfiltered… carrying higher per-unit concentrations of the toxic and carcinogenic compounds” than that being inhaled by the active smoker, it said.
Although smoking rates worldwide have dropped considerably since 1990, the number of people exposed to second-hand smoke has not decreased at the same pace. Researchers attributed this partly to population growth and rising exposure in parts of Africa and the Middle East.
Women were also identified as particularly vulnerable, especially in areas where relatively few women smoke themselves.
“Despite this substantial burden, (second-hand smoke) exposure remains rarely acknowledged as a major risk factor for female health,” it said.
The researchers urged governments to strengthen tobacco-control measures, particularly in public spaces and households, to reduce exposure and provide better protection for women and children.
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