Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Among Nonsmokers

Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke can cause sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children, and coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in adult nonsmokers.

What is added by this report?

Although secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. nonsmokers declined from 87.5% to 25.2% during 1988–2014, one in four nonsmokers, including 14 million children, were exposed to secondhand smoke during 2013–2014.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Continued measures to implement comprehensive smoke-free laws in workplaces and public places, adoption of smoke-free home and vehicle rules, and educational interventions warning about the risks for secondhand smoke exposure can further reduce secondhand smoke exposure.