Global Study: 2.7 Billion People Exposed to Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
A comprehensive international study published reveals that a significant portion of the global population faces the danger of passive smoking, resulting in millions of fatalities.
According to the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study published in The Lancet Public Health journal, 2.71 billion people—accounting for approximately one-third of the world's population—are exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke, leading to 1.66 million deaths.
Dimensions of Global Exposure
One-third of the world's population is exposed each year to secondhand tobacco smoke, known as passive smoking. This dangerous condition, to which 2.71 billion people worldwide were exposed in 2023, has led to 1.66 million deaths.
Children and Women at Risk
Vulnerable groups exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke include 767 million children under the age of 15 and 1.49 million women. This situation indicates that public health measures need to be increased.
Scope of the Comprehensive Research
The findings were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study published in The Lancet Public Health journal. The research examined 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023.
Gaps in Legal Protection
It was determined that approximately 70 percent of the world's population is not protected by comprehensive smoke-free air laws. As of 2024, only 79 countries meet the highest protection standards under the World Health Organization framework.
Regional Increase Trends
Researchers noted that exposure has risen sharply in Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East regions due to population growth.
Associated Health Problems
Secondhand tobacco smoke is linked to many serious health problems, such as cardiovascular diseases, childhood respiratory illnesses, stroke, COPD, asthma, type 2 diabetes, and various types of cancer.