Global passive smoking deaths hit 1.6 million in 2023, study finds

A Lancet study estimates 2.71 billion people, including 767 million children, were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2023, causing 1.6 million premature deaths. The figures highlight a persistent global health burden, though the study's methodology and country-level breakdowns remain unclear. This underscores the need for stronger tobacco control policies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.