Secondhand smoke exposure affects 2.7 billion people globally

A new analysis published in ‘The Lancet Public Health’ reveals that approximately 2.71 billion people were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2023, accounting for an estimated 1.66 million deaths that year.

The study, which examined data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, found that secondhand smoke exposure resulted in 44.8 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. Children are particularly vulnerable, with an estimated 767 million children aged 0 to 14 exposed to smoke. For children, lower respiratory infections represent the largest health burden.

While global age-standardized exposure rates fell by 22.2% since 1990, the total number of people exposed has remained largely stagnant due to global population growth. In some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, the absolute number of people exposed has increased significantly.

Gender disparities were also noted, with female exposure rates (37.3%) being higher than male rates (30.6%). Researchers highlighted that while public smoking bans are effective, they often fail to protect women and children in domestic environments, where much of the exposure occurs.