Secondhand smoke represents a significant threat to public health globally. A recent study revealed that approximately 2.7 billion people are exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, with 767 million being children. These numbers demonstrate the scale of the problem affecting populations worldwide.
Environmental tobacco smoke causes serious health damage to those who breathe it, even without being a smoker. Among the main consequences are heart disease, respiratory problems, and various types of cancers. Non-smokers who inhale this smoke face similar risks to those of active smokers.
Secondhand smoke remains one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke particularly affects children, who are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of smoke and have less ability to avoid exposure in domestic and public environments.
