Bangkok: Doctors have raised alarms about the grave health risks associated with secondhand smoke, identifying nine serious diseases it can cause. The best preventive measure, as emphasized by health experts, is to cease smoking entirely to protect both smokers and non-smokers alike.

According to Thai News Agency, Professor Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, Chairman of the Foundation for a Smoke-Free Society, has highlighted the dangers of secondhand smoke, which can result in nine serious illnesses. These include lung cancer, stroke, sudden infant death syndrome, coronary artery disease, asthma exacerbation, otitis media, pneumonia in young children, low birth weight in infants, and underdeveloped lungs in children. The American Lung Association has corroborated these findings. Exposure to secondhand smoke occurs in various environments such as homes, workplaces, schools, religious institutions, cars, and other public places where smoking is prohibited by law.

In a 2003 statement, a tobacco industry journal expressed concern over the potential impact of protective measures against secondhand smoke on their business, acknowledging that such measures could lead to a decline in smoking rates.

For over two decades, tobacco companies have engaged in deceptive practices, including fabricating research and misleading the public regarding the dangers of secondhand smoke. These companies have also hindered legislative efforts to ban smoking in public places, such as restaurants, pubs, bars, and airport lounges. While they have proposed the use of designated smoking rooms, air purifiers, and ventilation systems for economic reasons, the International Council of Engineers has demonstrated that these systems are ineffective in filtering out harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke. A complete ban on smoking in public areas is deemed necessary to safeguard non-smokers from the hazardous effects of secondhand smoke.