Second-hand smoke causes 1.7 mln deaths globally: Study
Notices warning against littering, smoking, and unauthorized entry ,written in multiple languages, are seen outside an apartment building near Shinjuku Station in Tokyo on September 7, 2026. (AFP Photo)
More than 2.7 billion people including children have been exposed to second-hand smoke globally, contributing to nearly 1.7 million deaths in 2023, according to study published on Sept. 8 in The Lancet.
Tobacco remains a leading cause of disease globally, the study said, noting many “non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke” were among the estimate total of 8 million people who died in 2023 of smoking-related illnesses.
“Exposure to second-hand smoke is a globally recognized health risk, with no safe level of inhalation,” it said.
