Secondhand smoke exposure at home in a representative sample of adults in Poland in 2024: A cross-sectional survey

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is the smoke produced when tobacco products – such as cigarettes – are burned; SHS is harmful to health. This study assesses secondhand smoke exposure at home in a representative sample of adults in Poland and identifies factors associated with secondhand smoke exposure at home. This study is based on data from a nationwide cross-sectional survey (February 2024). Self-reported exposure to SHS at home was assessed using a questionnaire. The study population was comprised of 1,080 adults aged 18 years and over, of which 36.2% smoked cigarettes or used e-cigarettes or heated tobacco in the past 30 days. Exposure to secondhand smoke at home was declared by 25.1% of all respondents, including 41.2% among smokers and 16.0% among non-smokers. Among all respondents, the factors significantly associated with higher odds of exposure to secondhand smokeat home were living in rural areas (OR: 1.84, 95%CI: 1.07–3.17, p=0.03), having three or more household members (OR: 2.63, 95%CI: 1.37–5.06, p=0.004), having bad economic status (OR: 1.68, 95%CI: 1.03–2.72, p=0.04), smoking cigarettes (OR: 2.26, 95%CI: 1.62–3.16, p<0.001), and using e-cigarettes or heated tobacco products (OR: 2.18, 95%CI: 1.49–3.20, p<0.001). Among non-smokers (n=689), the factors significantly associated with exposure to secondhand smoke at home were living in rural areas (OR: 2.35, 95%CI:1.10–5.02, p=0.03) and having three or more household members (OR: 2.42, 95%CI: 1.01–5.81, p=0.04). This study revealed that SHS exposure at home remains a significant public health problem in Poland.