The report addresses the weight of evidence on the potential associations between passive smoking or environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and (1) lung cancer in nonsmoking adults, and (2) noncancer respiratory disorders, primarily in children. With respect to lung cancer, the report concludes that (1) ETS is causally associated with lung cancer in nonsmoking adults and is an EPA Group A (known human) carcinogen, and (2) approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths per year among nonsmokers of both sexes in the United States are attributable to ETS. With respect to noncancer respiratory effects, the report concludes that ETS exposure to children from parental smoking is causally associated with (1) respiratory symptoms of irritation (cough, sputum, and wheeze); (2) middle ear effusion; (3) reduced lung function; (4) lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs), particularly in infants; and (5) additional episodes and increased severity of asthma in asthmatic children. The evidence also suggests that ETS exposure induces asthma in previously asymptomatic children. In addition, passive smoking causes some respiratory discomfort and reduced lung function in adults.

"December 1992." Includes bibliographical references.

Summary and conclusions -- Introduction -- Estimation of environmental tobacco smoke exposure -- Hazard identification I: lung cancer in active smokers, long-term animal bioassays, and genotoxicity studies -- Hazard identification II: interpretation of epidemiologic studies on environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer -- Population risk of lung cancer from passive smoking -- Passive smoking and respiratory disorders other than cancer -- Assessment of increased risk for respiratory illnesses in children from environmental tobacco smoke. And conclusions -- Introduction -- Estimation of environmental tobacco smoke exposure -- Hazard identification I: lung cancer in active smokers, long-term animal bioassays, and genotoxicity studies -- Hazard identification II: interpretation of epidemiologic studies on environmental tobacco smoke and lung cancer -- Population risk of lung cancer from passive smoking -- Passive smoking and respiratory disorders other than cancer -- Assessment of increased risk for respiratory illnesses in children from environmental tobacco smoke.