United KingdomA major study published in The Lancet Public Health estimates that nearly two million people worldwide die annually due to second-hand smoke exposure. Researchers analyzed data from 204 countries and found that 2.71 billion people were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, including 767 million children under 14. Heart disease was the leading cause of death linked to second-hand smoke, accounting for 537,000 fatalities. While the proportion of people exposed decreased by 22% since 1990, population growth kept the total number of exposures stable. The study highlights that regions like Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania bear the heaviest burden, with China, India, and Indonesia contributing significantly to global exposure levels. In contrast, the UK has seen a significant decline in smoking rates, reducing deaths linked to second-hand smoke from 14,900 in 1990 to 6,100 in 2023.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a scientific study on the health impacts of second-hand smoke without overtly promoting any political agenda. It provides balanced information about global trends, regional disparities, and historical improvements in certain areas like the UK. There is no clear ideological slant
