Passive smoking

Common card · No. 258488

Passive smoking is the inhalation of tobacco smoke by individuals who are not actively smoking. It occurs when tobacco smoke diffuses into the surrounding atmosphere as an aerosol pollutant, which leads to its inhalation by nearby bystanders within the same environment. Such pollutant is known by various names, including passive smoke, second-hand smoke (SHS) or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). Exposure causes many of the same health effects caused by active smoking, although at a lower prevalence due to the reduced concentration of smoke that enters the airway. According to a World Health Organization (WHO) report published in 2023, more than 1.3 million deaths are attributed to passive smoking worldwide every year. The health risks of passive smoke are a matter of scientific consensus, and have been a major motivation for smoking bans in workplaces and indoor venues, including restaurants, bars and night clubs, as well as some open public spaces. Concerns around passive smoking have...

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