Nearly 1.7 million people globally died from exposure to secondhand smoke in 2023:early 1.7 million people globally died from exposure to secondhand smoke in 2023, according to a study published Tuesday. Secondhand smoke is smoke inhaled by people who are near someone using tobacco products. According to Anadolu Agency, more than 2.7 billion people worldwide, including about 767 million children, were exposed to secondhand smoke in 2023, as per the study published in The Lancet Public Health. Researchers examined data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023 and found that exposure to secondhand smoke was linked to 1.66 million deaths and 44.8 million years of healthy life lost in 2023. Ischemic heart disease emerged as the leading cause of death associated with secondhand smoke exposure among adults. Meanwhile, the study also linked exposure to 5.2 million lower respiratory infections among children in 2023. While the proportion of people exposed to secondhand smoke has declined since 199 0, the overall number has remained broadly stable due to population growth. Notably, exposure has increased in parts of Africa and the Middle East. The researchers emphasized that secondhand smoke continues to pose a major global health risk and called for stronger tobacco-control measures to safeguard people, especially women and children.