根據美國Surgeon General發表的綜合報告，非吸煙者在家庭或工作環境中暴露于二手煙霧，患心臟病的危險增加了25-30%，肺癌的危險增加了20-30%。

該結果涉及的公共衛生問題十分重要，因為幾乎半數不吸煙的美國人仍然暴露于二手煙霧。二手煙霧是已知的人類致癌原，包含超過50種致癌化學物質。非吸煙人員暴露于二手煙霧會吸入與吸煙人員一樣的有毒物質，即使短暫暴露于二手煙霧，對心血管系統也會迅速產生不良左右，從而增加心臟疾病和肺癌的危險。
 
Dangers of Secondhand Smoke Confirmed
 
Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25-30% and lung cancer by 20-30%, according to a comprehensive report issued by the U.S. Surgeon General.

The finding is of major public health concern due to the fact that nearly half of all nonsmoking Americans are still regularly exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, known as a human carcinogen, contains more than 50 cancer-causing chemicals. Nonsmokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke inhale many of the same toxins as smokers, and even brief exposure to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and increases the risk for heart disease and lung cancer.