Workplace Secondhand Smoke Exposure
“People who don't smoke can still be at risk for heart disease, lung cancer and stroke after they're exposed to secondhand smoke. Almost 20% of nonsmoking workers in the United States were exposed to secondhand smoke while on the job, according to a study published Thursday by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During 2013 and 2014, 1 in 4 US nonsmokers reported a secondhand smoking exposure and an estimated 41,000 adult nonsmokers' deaths were linked to secondhand smoke.”
“‘Secondhand smoke exposure is an important public health issue ... and has been recognized as one of the top occupational hazards that contributes substantially to the prevalence of occupational cancer among nonsmokers,’ Dr. Sara Luckhaupt, a study author and preventive medicine physician in Cincinnati, said in an email. Luckhaupt is also a medical officer for the CDC. Just over 10% of people reported frequent secondhand exposure at work, defined as twice a week or more. But some jobs have it worse than others.”
“[T]he study's findings show that the ‘implementation of workplace smoke-free policies’ can help reduce secondhand smoke exposure among workers and protect public health, the researchers wrote. ‘Secondhand smoke exposure is responsible for over 40,000 deaths per year in this country,’ King said. ‘Even brief levels of exposure can be harmful.’”
CNN, July 11, 2019: “Almost 20% of nonsmoking workers are exposed to secondhand smoke on the job, study finds,” by Minali Nigam
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), July 12, 2019: “Workplace Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure Among U.S. Nonsmoking Workers, 2015,” by Chia-ping Su, Girija Syamlal, Sara Tamers, Jia Li, and Sara E. Luckhaupt
Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke