- An estimated 88 million nonsmoking Americans, including 54% of children aged 3–11 years, are exposed to secondhand smoke.
- Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their lung cancer risk by 20–30%.
- Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their heart disease risk by 25–30%.
- Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer, and more than 46,000 die of heart disease.
- Children are at particular risk for exposure to secondhand smoke: 53.6% of young children (aged 3–11 years) were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2007–2008.
- While only 5.4% of adult nonsmokers in the United States lived with someone who smoked inside their home, 18.2% of children (aged 3–11 years) lived with someone who smoked inside their home in 2007–2008.
- Babies and children who breathe secondhand smoke are sick more often with bronchitis, pneumonia, and ear infections.
- In children, secondhand smoke causes:
- Ear infections
- More frequent and severe asthma attacks
- Respiratory issues, including coughing, sneezing, and shortness of breath
- Respiratory infections, including bronchitis and pneumonia
- An increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- In children aged 18 months and younger in the United States, secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for:
- 150,000–300,000 new cases of bronchitis and pneumonia annually
- Approximately 7,500–15,000 hospitalizations annually
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