Secondhand smoke exposure in Taiwan households rises to 35%

台灣家庭二手菸暴露率升至35%

Health administration says children exposed more likely to become smokers


TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Health Promotion Administration said Tuesday that secondhand smoke exposure inside Taiwanese households rose to 35.6% in 2024, up from 28.9% in 2022.

According to last year's smoking behavior survey, about one in three people are exposed to harmful tobacco smoke at home. This is despite the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act having been enforced for nearly three decades, primarily to restrict indoor smoking, CNA reported.

In 2023, the law expanded to cover additional indoor and outdoor public spaces. However, the administration said that secondhand smoke inside homes remains a persistent problem.

The administration cautioned against the common misconception that smoking in well-ventilated areas is safe. Both secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke, or residual toxins that linger on surfaces, pose health risks even after brief exposure.

This is particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups such as children and pregnant women. Exposure in children increases risks of asthma, ear infections, lower respiratory tract infections, and sudden infant death syndrome, and may also contribute to learning disabilities and depression.

The administration also underscored the influential role families play in shaping children’s smoking behaviors. A UK study found that adolescents exposed to secondhand smoke before age 14, from caregivers who smoke, are twice as likely to become smokers by age 17 compared to those not exposed.

To reduce tobacco-related health risks, the administration urged smokers to quit and promoted the free, confidential quitline at 0800-636363, which offers personalized cessation counseling. Smokers can also seek help at contracted medical institutions nationwide that provide smoking cessation services.