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Is passive smoking increasing cancer risk?
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|June 1, 1987
Summary
Passive smoking, or secondhand smoke exposure, significantly increases lung cancer risk by 30% for non-smokers. This public health issue warrants preventive measures due to the unacceptable lifetime risk increase.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is widespread in modern society.
- While exposure levels are lower than active smoking, ETS poses a significant public health concern.
- Epidemiologic studies consistently link passive smoking to adverse health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the public health implications of passive smoking.
- To quantify the increased risk of lung cancer associated with secondhand smoke exposure.
- To evaluate the plausibility and acceptability of these risks.
Main Methods:
- Review and synthesis of published epidemiologic studies on passive smoking and lung cancer.
- Analysis of biological dose indicators to assess exposure levels.
- Calculation of relative risk and lifetime risk increase for lung cancer.
Main Results:
- Consistent evidence indicates a 30% increase in lung cancer risk for passive smokers.
- Exposure levels are biologically plausible and correlate with increased risk.
- A relative risk of 1.3 translates to an approximate 1 in 1,000 increase in lifetime lung cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- Passive smoking is a significant public health problem due to widespread exposure.
- The 30% increased lung cancer risk is considered unacceptable for involuntary exposure.
- Preventive measures are necessary to mitigate the health risks associated with secondhand smoke.