Addressing Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Tanzania: Implications and Urgent Solutions

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure (also called secondhand smoking or passive smoking) is the involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke by a person who is not actively smoking. A person is placed at a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema and chronic bronchitis), pneumonia, lung cancer, asthma attacks, and also cardiovascular diseases. According to a recent report by the WHO published in June 2026, tobacco kills more than 1.6 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke prematurely every year worldwide. In Tanzania, the interaction between smokers and non-smokers has increased by 90% and the health risks to non-smokers can increase by 7%. This is an important public health issue in Tanzania, and this article will discuss the effects and suggest what can be done. The nicotine from tobacco smoke disrupts the airway mucosa and leads to respiratory diseases in people who are not active smokers but are exposed to smoke from active smokers. There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Nicotine is very harmful to children, adolescents and young adults whose brains are still developing. Tobacco smoke may cause sudden infact death syndrome in infants who are exposed to tobacco smoke. Pregnant mothers who are exposed to tobacco smoke can have a miscarriage or deliver a baby with low birth weight. Community sensitization, continuous health education through the media, increasing taxes on tobacco products and penalties for those who smoke in public areas will help to reduce environmental tobacco smoke exposure and the risk of developing diseases among exposed people. Keywords: Environmental tobacco smoke exposure; Secondhand smoking; Passive smoking; Nicotine; Non-smokers; Tanzania