Secondhand smoke, also known as ambient smoke, is smoke from burning tobacco that is inhaled by non-smokers. It is a global public health problem that has serious effects on people around the world, both adults and children. To understand the magnitude of this problem, let's look at the latest statistics on secondhand smoke worldwide.

   Global statistics on secondhand smoke

  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.2 million people die each year worldwide due to exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, the health of about 40% of children, 33% of male non-smokers and 35% of female non-smokers is threatened by secondhand smoke.

  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States calculates that tobacco smoke is responsible for 2.5 million non-smoking deaths since 1964. In the UK, about 3,000 people die each year from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke, according to Public Health England.

    Effects of secondhand smoke in children

  Secondhand smoke has a particularly negative impact on children's health. WHO estimates that about 65,000 children die each year worldwide from diseases associated with secondhand smoke. More than half of the world's children are regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at home.

  Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of sudden crib death syndrome, lower respiratory tract infections, asthma and other health problems in children. In the UK, secondhand smoke is estimated to cause more than 20,000 visits to first aid departments each year.

   Passive smoke and heart disease

  The CDC estimates that secondhand smoke causes about 34,000 deaths from heart disease each year in the United States. Exposure to secondhand smoke increases the risk of heart disease by 25-30%.

   Regional differences

  According to the WHO, exposure to secondhand smoke is highest in the Eastern Mediterranean region and Southeast Asia, where more than 35% of people are exposed to secondhand smoke at home. In Africa, the Americas and Europe, this rate is around 25-35%.

   Summary

  Secondhand smoke is a global public health problem that affects millions of people around the world. Statistics show that this is a serious problem that deserves attention from both politicians and the general public. Passing laws banning smoking in public places, educating the public about the dangers of secondhand smoke and supporting smokers to quit are key to reducing the dangers of secondhand smoke.