Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Among Nonsmokers - United States, 1988-2014

Abstract

Exposure to secondhand smoke from burning tobacco products can cause sudden infant death syndrome, respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks in infants and children, and coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in adult nonsmokers (1). There is no risk-free level of secondhand smoke exposure (2). CDC analyzed questionnaire and laboratory data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to assess patterns of secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. nonsmokers. The prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. nonsmokers declined substantially during 1988-2014, from 87.5% to 25.2%. However, no change in exposure occurred between 2011-2012 and 2013-2014, and an estimated one in four nonsmokers, or approximately 58 million persons, were still exposed to secondhand smoke during 2013-2014. Moreover, marked disparities persisted across population groups. Exposure prevalence was highest among nonsmokers aged 3-11 years (37.9%), non-Hispanic blacks (50.3%), and those who were living in poverty (47.9%), in rental housing (38.6%), or with someone who smoked inside the home (73.0%), or among persons who had less than a high school education (30.7%). Comprehensive smoke-free laws and policies for workplaces and public places and smoke-free rules for homes and vehicles can further reduce secondhand smoke exposure among all nonsmokers.

FIGURE 1

Percentage of nonsmokers aged ≥3 years with evidence of secondhand smoke exposure (serum cotinine levels 0.05–10 ng/mL), by age group — National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), United States, 1988–2014 * Nonsmokers aged ≥4 years for NHANES III 1988–1994.

FIGURE 2

Percentage of nonsmokers aged 3–11 years with evidence of secondhand smoke exposure (serum cotinine levels 0.05–10 ng/mL), by race and ethnicity— National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), United States, 1988–2014 * Nonsmokers aged ≥4 years for NHANES III 1988–1994. ^† Because of sample design, racial and Hispanic origin categories were limited to non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican Americans across all survey cycles.