Children at highest risk of exposure to second-hand smoke. In the first ever global assessment on second-hand smoking, data from 192 countries was analyzed in a World Health Organization study by international scientists published in the British medical journal “The Lancet.” The study found that passively inhaled smoke accounts for a full 1% of total worldwide deaths, with 600,000 people losing their lives yearly. Although the number adults succumbing remained the same in wealthier and developing countries, children fared far worse in less fortunate situations, with approximately 5 youths perishing to second-hand smoke for every adult fatality.

Among all those who died, approximately 60% suffered from heart disease, while 30% had lower respiratory infections, and the rest died due to complications from asthma and lung cancer. In total, a staggering 5.7 million people perished from smoking-related causes in 2004. Research lead Dr. Annette Pruss-Ustun and colleagues strongly recommended the implementation of smoke-free laws and other World Health Organization guidelines such as raising tobacco taxes, banning advertising, and plain packaging.

Many thanks, Dr. Pruss-Ustun and World Health Organization associates for these findings on the tragic tolls of tobacco. May such alarming data motivate leaders and citizens alike toward measures that encourage tobacco-free lifestyles to protect individual health and the air we share with so many others.