Secondhand smoke linked to 1.66 million premature deaths in 2023

A study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals that secondhand smoke exposure was linked to approximately 1.66 million premature deaths worldwide in 2023. The research, which analyzed data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, found that over 2.7 billion people were exposed to involuntary tobacco smoke.

Children are among the most vulnerable groups. In 2023, an estimated 767 million children aged 0 to 14 were exposed to secondhand smoke, resulting in roughly 5.2 million associated respiratory infections. The European Respiratory Society notes that children lose 8.45 million healthy life days annually due to this exposure.

Ischemic heart disease was identified as the primary cause of the disease burden related to secondhand smoke. While overall smoking prevalence has declined since 1990, the absolute number of exposed individuals has remained stable due to global population growth, with increases noted in Africa and the Middle East. Researchers emphasize that there is no safe level of exposure and urge governments to strengthen tobacco restrictions in public spaces and homes.