We talk about smokers. But what about those who never light up—yet inhale the consequences every day? This comprehensive meta-analysis spanning 2020 to 2025 synthesizes the burden, biological impact, and public health costs of Secondhand Smoke (SHS) exposure. From indoor pollution to pediatric asthma, cardiovascular compromise to cancer risk, the data reveals a consistent truth: SHS is not passive—it’s aggressively harmful.
Despite policies and bans, exposure remains high in households, public spaces, and even healthcare settings. This analysis lays bare the urgent need to tighten enforcement, reframe SHS as direct harm, and elevate awareness across clinical and social spheres. Still calling it “passive” smoking?
