Second Hand Smoke Stats

Secondhand smoke sickens millions, kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year.
USA Today (11/27, Szabo) reported, "Secondhand smoke sickens millions and kills more than 600,000 people worldwide each year, including more than 165,000 children under 5, according to the first report to estimate the worldwide burden of disease and death from tobacco." After looking at data collected from 192 countries, investigators with the World Health Organization "found more than half of the deaths are from heart disease, followed by deaths from cancer, lung infections, asthma and other ailments." The team also noted that "more than two-thirds of the children's deaths are in Africa and Asia, where they have less access to important public health services, such as vaccines, and less advanced medical care."
And the "mix of infectious diseases and secondhand smoke is a deadly combination," lead investigator Armando Peruga told the AP (11/29). The researchers also pointed out in their Lancet paper that "secondhand smoke had its biggest impact on women, killing about 281,000. In many parts of the world, women are at least 50 percent more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke than men.
According to the CNN (11/26, Falco) "The Chart" blog, "researchers believe more needs to be done to create complete smoke-free indoor environments at work, in public places and on public transportation." Specifically, "educating and empowering women can make a big difference is protecting children and non-smoking adults from the deadly effects of secondhand smoke." Bloomberg News (11/26, von Schaper) also covered the study.