Tobacco

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke at Work or School

In Simcoe Muskoka, 7% of non-smokers said they were regularly exposures to secondhand smoke at work or school.
Children and youth (12-19 years) were significantly more likely to report regular exposure to secondhand smoke at work or school.
Regular exposure to secondhand smoke at work or school among non-smokers is higher for those living in households with lower income across Ontario, and is lower among people with a higher level of education.

According to the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), for the 2019-2020 survey years, 7% (4.7%, 10.5%) of Simcoe Muskoka residents (12+) that identified as non-smokers said that they were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at work or school. This was not significantly different from provincial rate.
Provincially, secondhand smoke exposure at work or school decreased from 11% (10.4%, 12.1%) in 2015-2016 to 7% (6.6%, 8.1%) in 2019-2020.

Secondhand smoke exposure at work or school in Simcoe Muskoka and Ontario

Children and youth (12-19 years) were significantly more likely to report regular exposure to secondhand smoke at work or school, based on combined data from the 2015-2016 and 2019-2020 CCHS survey years.
This decreased with age, from 13% (11.3%, 14.1%) among Ontario non-smokers aged 12-19, down to 4% (2.8%, 5.1%) in those over 65 years.

Secondhand smoke exposure at work or school by age group

The difference in regular exposure to second hand smoke at school or work for those living in urban areas compared to rural areas was not statistically significant in either Simcoe Muskoka or Ontario.

Secondhand smoke exposure at school or work by geography

Regular exposure to secondhand smoke at work or school among non-smokers is higher for those living in households with lower income across Ontario, and is lower among people with a higher level of education.
Based on combined data from the 2016-2016 and 2019-2020 CCHS survey years, 12% (10.0, 13.6%) of Ontario non-smokers (12+) living in households in the lowest 20 per cent of income were regularly exposed to secondhand smoke at work or school, which was significantly higher than the 7% (5.9%, 7.6%) for those living in households in the top 20 per cent of income.
Regular exposure to secondhand smoke at work or school was reported by 5% (4.3%, 5.8%) of non-smokers with a degree or higher in Ontario, which is significantly lower than the 11% (9.8%, 12.6%) of people with a high school diploma or less.

Secondhand smoke exposure at work or school by education and income

Questions about exposure to secondhand smoke were included in the 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020 CCHS surveys, but were not included in 2017 and 2018.