Cited by 157Smoking Behavior and CessationGlobal Cancer Incidence and ScreeningCarcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke and Risk of Cancer in Never Smokers: A Meta-Analysis of Epidemiologic Studies

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Kim, A-Sol, Ko, Hae-Jin, Kwon, Jin-Hyun, Lee, Jong-Myung·2018·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

This is first meta-analysis to evaluate cancer risk associated with secondhand smoking across all cancers. A literature search was conducted for articles published before June 2014 on Pubmed, SCOPUS, Cochrane library, and CINAHL, and 40 articles on secondhand smoke and the prevalence of cancer among never smokers were selected for final analysis as per the inclusion criteria. Of the 40 articles, 27 were case-control studies and 13 were prospective cohort studies. With respect to overall cancer risk, odds ratio (OR) involving never smokers with significant exposure to secondhand smoke compared to never smokers without such exposure was 1.163 (95%CI 1.058–1.279). Subgroup meta-analyses by study design showed significant positive associations for both case-control studies and prospective cohort studies (OR 1.165, 95%CI 1.029–1.320; and OR 1.160, 95%CI 1.002–1.343, respectively). The association was stronger in the case of females (OR 1.253, 95%CI 1.142–1.374), lung cancer (OR 1.245, 95%CI 1.026–1.511), and breast cancer (OR 1.235, 95%CI 1.102–1.385). Secondhand smoking may increase the overall risk of cancer for never smokers, particularly lung and breast cancer, and especially in women. Strict implementation of smoking cessation programs should be encouraged, not only to reduce active smoking but also to limit exposure to secondhand smoke.

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Authors
Kim, A.-S., Ko, H.-J., Kwon, J.-H., & Lee, J.-M.
Affiliations
  • Kyungpook National University (KR)
  • Kyungpook National University Hospital (KR)
Corresponding author
Ko, Hae-Jin
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2018-09-11
Volume
15
Issue
9
Pages
1981
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2890463633
Cited by
157
References
71
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 1
FWCI
1.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Biomedical Research Institute grant, Kyungpook National University Hospital (2014)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment
Keywords
passive smoking, never smokers, cancer risk, lung cancer, breast cancer, sex differences, smoking cessation interventions
MeSH terms
Smokers, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Neoplasms, Prospective Studies, Risk, Tobacco Smoke Pollution, Odds Ratio, Case-Control Studies

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