passive smoking

Passive smoking, also known as secondhand smoke, refers to the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke by a nonsmoker. This smoke is released from burning tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, as well as from the exhaled breath of smokers. Secondhand smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including nearly 70 known carcinogens.123

Exposure to passive smoking increases the risk of serious health problems for nonsmokers, mirroring some of the diseases that affect smokers. These include lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, it can cause respiratory irritation, trigger allergy-like reactions, and worsen conditions like asthma. Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at a higher risk for certain cancers and respiratory infections. Regulations are increasingly being implemented worldwide to ban smoking in public places to protect nonsmokers from these harmful effects.2456