Second-hand smoke linked to 1.7 million premature deaths worldwide

A comprehensive analysis published in The Lancet examined data from 1990 to 2023 across 204 nations, revealing that over 2.7 billion people were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, including 767 million children under 15. This exposure was responsible for nearly 1.7 million premature deaths, with ischemic heart disease identified as the leading cause, and triggered 5.2 million respiratory tract infections in children.

The study highlights that sidestream smoke, which non-smokers inhale, contains higher concentrations of toxic and carcinogenic compounds than mainstream smoke. While overall smoking prevalence has declined, the absolute number of exposed individuals has stayed flat because of global population growth and increased exposure in Africa and the Middle East. Women, especially in regions with low female smoking rates, bear a disproportionate burden, yet second-hand smoke is rarely recognized as a major female health risk. Researchers call for stricter tobacco control measures in public spaces and homes to protect vulnerable groups.