Secondhand Smoking in the U.S. at its Lowest Since 1999

According to a recent report released by the federal health authorities, secondhand smoking exposure in the United States has declined by almost half since 1999.

This happened mostly because municipalities and states have banned smoking in public places like work places, restaurants and bars. Also, according to the reports issued on Tuesday, fewer Americans are smoking inside their houses.

The percentage of American nonsmokers who are exposed to inhaling secondhand smoke has gone down to 25% in 2012, compared to 2000, when the percentage was 53%.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the exposure to secondhand smoke was determined by testing if there were any traces of cotinine, which is a marker of nicotine found in the blood.

The health officials say the decline was due to various reasons. One of those reasons was that approximately 700 American cities and towns have put a ban on smoking in public places in the last years.

Also, reports show that 26 states and the District of Columbia have banned smoking in public places.
Another reason for the decline in secondhand smoking is that 83% of the US homes have quit smoking inside in 2011, compared to 43% in 1993.

In conclusion, the smoking rate among Americans has declined and smoking in public places has become less frequent.
Health experts claim that even with this recent decline, there is still a large number of American non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoking – 1 in 4.

Recent estimations show that this massive exposure to secondhand smoke is responsible for more than 40,000 deaths from lung cancer and heart illnesses. Also, secondhand smoking causes approximately 400 babies die from sudden infant death syndrome annually.

The reports show that there are more than 480,000 deaths related to tobacco in the United States annually.
According to the researchers the African-American people, the poor and the children are affected the most by secondhand smoking.

In 2012, almost half of the African-American nonsmokers were exposed to secondhand smoke, compared to 1/5 of the white Americans.
Those living in poverty were affected the most, approximately 43%, compared the 21% of those who were not poor.
Image Source: allagainstsmoking