Facts from the WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic
Protect people from tobacco smoke
Facts:
- Every person has a right to breathe air free of tobacco smoke. In addition to protecting the health of non-smokers, smoke-free environments encourage smokers to quit.
- Second-hand tobacco smoke is estimated to cause about 600 000 premature deaths per year worldwide.
- There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke.
- Globally, about one third of adults are regularly exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke.
- Evidence from pioneering countries shows that smoke-free laws do not harm businesses and are popular with the public.
- Permitting smoking in designated areas undermines the benefit of smoke-free environments.
Key finding:
- About 11% of the global population is protected by comprehensive national smoke-free legislation.