Is Social Smoking Safe?

30 seconds

Bottom line: Results of a large study show that social smoking doubles the risk of dying from lung disease and raises the risk of dying from lung cancer by more than eight times that of non-smokers. A new study from Columbia University found that among non-smokers 1.8 percent died from respiratory diseases and 0.6 percent died of lung cancer. Among those who smoked less than 10 cigarettes a day 3.3 percent died from respiratory disease and 4.7 percent from lung cancer. Among heavy smokers (those who smoked more than 20 cigarettes daily) 10.1 percent died from respiratory disease and 12.9 percent from lung cancer. The study included 18,730 people whose average age was 61. They were followed for an average of 17 years. During that time 649 died of respiratory disease and 560 of lung cancer.

Source:
Social smokers’ face disproportionate risk of death from lung disease and lung cancer. eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-09/elf-sf090220.php