Definition
Workplace secondhand smoke exposure estimates are based on self-reported responses to the question: "On how many of the past
seven days, did anyone smoke in your indoor workplace while you were there?" This question is only asked of respondents who
are employed for wages or self-employed and those who report working indoors most of the time.
Numerator
Number of adults aged 18 years and older who report that they were exposed to secondhand smoke on one or more days in the
seven days before the survey
Denominator
Number of adults aged 18 years and older responding to the BRFSS survey who are employed for wages or self-employed and those
who report working indoors most of the time
Why Is This Important?
"Secondhand smoke exposure causes heart disease and lung cancer. In fact, the risk to nonsmokers for heart disease increases
by 25%-30% and for lung cancer by 20%-30%. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and exposure for even a
short duration is harmful to health." - North Carolina Institute of Medicine. Healthy North Carolina 2020: A Better State
of Health.
Other Objectives
Healthy North Carolina 2020
Graphical Data Views
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days North Carolina vs. HNC 2020 Target,
2008-2010 (Even Years)
| North Carolina vs. HNC2020 |
Year |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| North Carolina |
2008 |
14.6% |
13.4% |
15.9% |
| North Carolina |
2010 |
7.8% |
6.7% |
9.1% |
| HNC 2020 Target |
2008 |
0.0% |
|
|
| HNC 2020 Target |
2010 |
0.0% |
|
|
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
The HNC 2020 target, which is the target to be reached by 2020, is repeated in the data table for graphing purposes.
Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days by Ethnicity, 2010
| Hispanic Ethnicity |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| Hispanic |
12.0% |
7.3% |
19.2% |
| Non-Hispanic |
7.5% |
6.3% |
8.8% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days by Race, 2010
| Race |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| White |
7.5% |
6.2% |
9.0% |
| African American |
8.6% |
6.0% |
12.3% |
| Asian |
3.7% |
1.0% |
12.4% |
| Native American |
11.2% |
4.7% |
24.2% |
| Other |
10.5% |
5.8% |
18.0% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days by Sex, 2009-2020
| Males vs. Females |
Year |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| Male |
2008 |
18.7% |
16.8% |
20.6% |
| Male |
2010 |
11.7% |
9.7% |
14.0% |
| Female |
2008 |
9.5% |
8.2% |
11.1% |
| Female |
2010 |
3.4% |
2.7% |
4.3% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days by Age, 2010
| Age Group |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| 18-24 |
8.8% |
4.3% |
17.1% |
| 25-34 |
9.7% |
7.0% |
13.3% |
| 35-44 |
6.2% |
4.6% |
8.3% |
| 45-54 |
9.1% |
6.9% |
11.8% |
| 55-64 |
6.5% |
4.9% |
8.5% |
| 65-74 |
4.1% |
2.2% |
7.4% |
| 75+ |
1.7% |
0.4% |
7.2% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days by Education, 2010
| Education Level |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| Less Than High School |
18.1% |
12.5% |
25.3% |
| H.S. Grad or G.E.D. |
13.3% |
10.3% |
17.1% |
| Some Post High School |
6.8% |
5.2% |
9.0% |
| College Graduate |
3.3% |
2.3% |
4.6% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Data Sources
Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, State Center for Health Statistics
Percentage of People Exposed to Secondhand Smoke in the Workplace in the Past Seven Days for Select Counties, 2010
| Selected Counties |
Percentage of Adults |
Lower Limit |
Upper Limit |
| Alamance |
15.2% |
5.9% |
24.5% |
| Buncombe |
1.2% |
0.0% |
2.9% |
| Cabarrus |
2.0% |
0.2% |
3.8% |
| Catawba |
5.2% |
0.7% |
9.6% |
| Cumberland |
6.3% |
1.5% |
11.0% |
| Davidson |
13.8% |
4.4% |
23.3% |
| Durham |
3.8% |
0.3% |
7.3% |
| Forsyth |
8.7% |
2.5% |
14.9% |
| Gaston |
9.9% |
1.8% |
18.0% |
| Guilford |
8.1% |
4.2% |
11.9% |
| Iredell |
11.8% |
4.1% |
19.5% |
| Johnston |
11.8% |
3.2% |
20.3% |
| Mecklenburg |
3.8% |
1.4% |
6.3% |
| New Hanover |
3.8% |
0.3% |
7.3% |
| Onslow |
7.0% |
0.4% |
13.7% |
| Orange |
6.4% |
0.5% |
12.3% |
| Pitt |
8.6% |
2.7% |
14.5% |
| Randolph |
8.1% |
2.4% |
13.8% |
| Robeson |
14.6% |
5.4% |
23.9% |
| Rowan |
9.6% |
3.8% |
15.4% |
| Union |
12.6% |
5.7% |
19.5% |
| Wake |
4.4% |
1.4% |
7.5% |
| Wayne |
4.6% |
1.3% |
7.8% |
Data Notes
This measure is based on data from the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (NC BRFSS), a random-digit
dial telephone survey. BRFSS data are representative of the total non-institutionalized N.C. population aged 18 years and
older living in households with a telephone. The secondhand smoke module is specific to North Carolina; national data may
not be available every year.
Page Content Updated On 01/20/2012,
Published on 01/20/2012
