Tobacco use: environmental tobacco smoke

The Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) asked non-smoking adult respondents (aged 16 years and over) if they have been regularly exposed to other people's tobacco smoke in a range of different places. In 2021, 83% of non-smoking adults were not exposed to smoke in any of the places asked about, 6% (25% in 2003) were exposed in either their own or someone else's home, and 19% were exposed in any other public place. The percentage exposed to second-hand smoke in any public place has decreased between 2012 and 2021.

The Scottish Health Survey 2021 reported that 4% of children aged 0 - 15 lived in accommodation in which someone regularly smokes indoors, and 2% of children were reported to be exposed to second-hand smoke in their home. The number of children exposed to second-hand smoke in their home declined to 2% in 2021 from 12% in 2012. (SHeS 2021 – Table 557).

The latest figures for adults (aged 16 and over) exposed to second-hand smoke with valid saliva cotinine measurement come from the SHeS 2017. In 2017, the Scottish Health Survey reported that the proportion of non-smoking adults (aged 16 and over) exposed to second-hand smoke (based on detectable salivary cotinine) fell from 85% in 2003 to 24% (Table 5.6 - Self-reported cotinine validated non-smokers exposure to second-hand smoke, 2003 to 2016/2017).