Manila: Nearly 1.7 million people globally died from exposure to secondhand smoke in 2023, according to a study published Tuesday. Secondhand smoke is smoke inhaled by people who are near someone using tobacco products.

According to Philippines News Agency, more than 2.7 billion people worldwide, including about 767 million children, were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2023. This information was detailed in a study published in The Lancet Public Health. The research covered data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023, highlighting that exposure to secondhand smoke was linked to 1.66 million deaths and 44.8 million years of healthy life lost in 2023.

The study identified ischemic heart disease as the leading cause of death associated with secondhand smoke exposure among adults. Among children, exposure was linked to 5.2 million cases of lower respiratory infections in 2023. Despite a decline in the proportion of people exposed to secondhand smoke since 1990, the overall number has remained stable due to population growth, with notable increases in exposure in parts of Africa and the Middle East.

The researchers emphasized that secondhand smoke continues to be a significant global health risk and urged for stronger tobacco-control measures to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women and children.