by James L. Pirkle et al.

About the author: James L. Pirkle is the assistant director for science in the Division of Environmental Health Laboratory Sciences at the National Center for Environmental Health of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) [or secondhand smoke] has been associated with acute and chronic health effects among nonsmokers. These effects include lung cancer, asthma, increased incidence of respiratory infections, decreased pulmonary function, and cardiovascular disease. Exposure to ETS may occur in the home, in the workplace, in social settings, and in public places. Data on the extent of exposure to ETS in the US population provide prevalence information for risk assessment and public health prevention strategies, identify population subgroups at increased risk for exposure to ETS, and provide...