Changes in secondhand smoke exposure over two decades (2005–2024) in Spain: the estimated consequences of inaction in updating legislation
Menée par enquêtes réalisées en Espagne sur la période 2005-2024, cette étude analyse les tendances temporelles de l'exposition au tabagisme passif chez les non-fumeurs depuis la mise en place des 2 dernières lois nationales de lutte contre le tabagisme (2005 et 2010)
Background: In Spain, two national tobacco control laws were implemented. Law 28/2005 banned smoking in public places and workplaces but not fully in entertainment venues, leading to the more restrictive Law 42/2010, which extended the ban to all indoor entertainment venues. The aim of this study is to assess the temporal trends of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among non-smokers on a random and representative sample of the Spanish population over the past two decades.
Methods: SHS exposure was assessed through self-reported data collected via epidemiological surveys conducted in 2005 (n=3907), 2007 (n=2174), 2011 (n=1987) and 2024 (n=1444) using computer-assisted telephone interviewing system. Settings assessed included entertainment venues (eg, bars, restaurants or shopping centres), homes, workplaces and schools. The 2024 survey introduced electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and exposure on hospitality terraces.
Results: The prevalence of non-smokers exposed to SHS declined from 49.5% in 2005 to 37.9% in 2007 and further to 21.3% in 2011. However, a concerning reversal has been observed, with overall SHS prevalence rising to 23.8% in 2024, driven by marked increases in workplaces and entertainment venues, and smaller rises in schools and at home. Moreover, in 2024, exposure to emissions from ENDS was 18.3%, a figure that increased to 38.2% when hospitality terraces were included.
Conclusion: A long period without major legislative changes in tobacco control has led to increased SHS exposure and concerning levels of exposure to emissions from ENDS.
Tobacco Control , résumé, 2026