India, Sept. 25 -- Whether it's the lingering haze on your morning commute or the casual smoke drifting across an outdoor cafe, passive exposure to smoke poses a daily health risk to millions. A study published in The Lancet Public Health earlier in September estimates that 3,25,600 people in India died from causes attributable to exposure to second-hand (passive) smoke in 2023, up from 2,17,700 in 1990, a rise of nearly 50% over 33 years. The study estimates that around 444 million Indians were exposed to second-hand smoke in 2023, up from 375 million in 1990. The health burden extends beyond deaths. The study estimates thatsecond-hand smoke accounted for 9.28 million disability-adjusted life years in India in 2023. This suggests that healthy years lost to premature death, illness or disability is a reminder that not smoking simply isn't always enough to avoid the health risks associated with tobacco smoke. "Even short-term exposure to tobacco smoke can irritate the eyes, throat and lungs. It can even temporarily affect blood vessels and heart function," says respiratory disease and sleep medicine specialist Dr Shweta Bansal, Artemis Hospital, Gurugram. One may think spending ten minutes around a smoker may be harmless. But Dr Bansal says, "During those minutes you can breathe in tobacco smoke, which contains fine particles, nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals. Children, pregnant women, older adults and asthmatic people may be particularly vulnerable. It's safer to avoid exposure altogether."...