What is the term for smoke inhaled from other people's tobacco products?

The term for smoke inhaled from other people's tobacco products is commonly recognized as secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the combination of the smoke that comes from the burning end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe and the smoke exhaled by the person using the tobacco product. This type of smoke contains a mixture of over 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic and can cause serious health issues for nonsmokers, particularly children and pregnant women.

Understanding secondhand smoke is crucial, especially in discussions concerning public health and smoking regulations, as it signifies the involuntary exposure that non-smokers experience in various environments. This exposure can lead to a variety of health complications, including respiratory infections, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases, underscoring the importance of smoke-free spaces.

The other terms—while related—do not specifically encapsulate the concept of smoke inhaled by non-users. Mainstream smoke refers to the smoke that a smoker inhales directly from the cigarette. Passive smoke and environmental tobacco smoke are terms used in the context of exposure to tobacco smoke but are less commonly utilized and less precise than secondhand smoke in modern discourse.