{
  "id": 6192375,
  "title": "Study links second-hand smoke to nearly 1.7 million deaths globally",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/study-links-second-hand-smoke-to-nearly-1-7-million-deaths-globally-6192375",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-07T23:14:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/08/study-links-second-hand-smoke-to-nearly-1-7-million-deaths-globally"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2023, a Lancet study revealed that nearly 2.7 billion people, including 767 million children aged 0 to 14, were exposed to second-hand smoke, resulting in approximately 1.7 million deaths globally. Tobacco remains a leading cause of disease worldwide, with non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke accounting for 8 million of the estimated 9 million deaths in 2023. The study, published in The Lancet, found that exposure to second-hand smoke is linked to ischemic heart disease, the leading cause of premature death and disability. In children, this exposure is estimated to have caused 5.2 million respiratory tract infections in 2023. The sidestream smoke from burning tobacco products and smoke exhaled by smokers poses higher health risks to non-smokers compared to active smokers. Despite global declines in smoking prevalence since 1990, the absolute number of exposed individuals remains stable due to population growth and increased exposure in Africa and the Middle East. Women, especially in regions with low smoking prevalence among women, are disproportionately affected. The study emphasizes the need for governments to implement stronger tobacco control measures in public places and homes to protect women and children from second-hand smoke.",
  "summary": "People near someone smoking inhale 'sidestream smoke', which carries higher concentrations of toxic and carcinogenic compounds.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Study links second-hand smoke to nearly 1.7 million deaths globally",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/study-links-second-hand-smoke-to-nearly-1-7-million-deaths-globally",
        "published": "2026-09-07T23:14:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "2.7 billion exposed to second-hand smoke as deaths hit 1.6 million: Study",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/2-7-billion-exposed-to-second-hand-smoke-as-deaths-hit-1-6-million",
        "published": "2026-09-07T23:33:49.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}