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Passive smoke exposed 2.7 billion people and contributed to 1.66 million deaths in one year, study showsPhoto by pasja1000 on Pexels
ScienceCoimbra

Passive smoke exposed 2.7 billion people and contributed to 1.66 million deaths in one year, study shows

oglobo8 September 2026 at 09:36

More than 2.7 billion people, including 767 million children, were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2023, according to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet. The research estimates that this exposure contributed to 1.66 million premature deaths worldwide that year.

Tobacco remains among the leading causes of disease worldwide. Many of the nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke were among the approximately 8 million people who died in 2023 from tobacco-related diseases.

The study states that exposure to secondhand smoke is a recognized health risk worldwide, with no safe level of inhalation. The research analyzed published scientific articles on the topic to reach these conclusions.

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