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### Contact Info

Centers for Disease Control and PreventionNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health PromotionOffice on Smoking and Health

Tel: 1-800-CDC-INFO(1-800-232-4636)TTY: 1-888-232-6348

E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov

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# Fact Sheet

## Trends in Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among U.S. Nonsmokers: Progress and Gaps

### (October 2006)

      - Secondhand smoke exposure among U.S. nonsmokers has declined substantially 			since the publication of the 1986 Surgeon General's Report on The Health 			Consequences of Involuntary Smoking. 1          - Levels of a chemical called cotinine, a biomarker of secondhand 				smoke exposure, fell by 70% from 1988–1991 to 2001–2002. 2
        - The proportion of nonsmokers with detectable cotinine levels 				has been halved from 88% to 43%. 2 
      - However, more than 126 million nonsmoking Americans, including both 			children and adults, are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their 			homes and workplaces. 1
      - Homes and workplaces are the primary locations where nonsmokers 			are exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke exposure also continues 			to occur in public places such as restaurants and bars and in private 			vehicles. 1
      - Children are more heavily exposed to secondhand smoke than adults. 3  			Almost 60% of U.S. children aged 3–11 years—or almost 22 million 			children—are exposed to secondhand smoke. 1  About 25% of children 			in this age group live with at least one smoker, as compared to only 			about 7% of nonsmoking adults. 1
      - While declines in cotinine levels have occurred in all racial and 			ethnic groups, cotinine levels have consistently been found to be higher 			in African Americans than in whites and Mexican Americans. 2
      - Disparities in secondhand smoke exposure among ethnic and racial 			groups vary by the location where the exposure is taking place. For 			example, some evidence suggests that Hispanics are less likely than 			other ethnic/racial groups to be covered by smoke-free workplace policies, 			but are more likely to have smoke-free home rules in place. 1
      - Secondhand smoke exposure tends to be higher for persons with lower 			incomes. 1 
      - Eliminating smoking in indoor spaces is the only way to fully protect 			nonsmokers from secondhand smoke exposure. Separating smokers from nonsmokers, 			cleaning the air, and ventilating buildings cannot eliminate secondhand 			smoke exposure. 1

#### References

      - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 			 The Health Consequences 			of Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke: A Report of the Surgeon General . 			Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 			Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for 			Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and 			Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2006 [cited 2006 Oct 23]. Available from:			http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/sgr_2006/index.htm.			
      - Pirkle JL, Bernert JT, Caudill SP, Sosnoff CS, Pechacek TF . 			 Trends in the Exposure of Nonsmokers in the U.S. Population to Secondhand Smoke: 			1988–2002 . 			 Environmental Health Perspectives . 			2006;114(6):853–858 [cited 2006 Oct 23].
      - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 			 Third National Report 			on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals . Atlanta, Georgia: U.S. 			Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control 			and Prevention, National Center for Environmental Health, 2005 [cited 2006 Oct 23]. NCEH 			Publication No. 05-0570.

#### For Further Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention		National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion		Office on Smoking and Health		E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov		Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO

Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line 		at 770-488-5493.

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Office on Smoking and HealthNational Center for Chronic 		Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

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